1. Lesson 5 – influential documents
SS.7.C.1.2
Lesson 5 – influential documents

2. Overview
Overview
In this lesson, you will learn about the ideas that influenced the colonists’ views of government.
Essential Question
What were some of the key influences on the colonists’ views of government?
NGSSS Benchmark
SS.7.C.1.2 Trace the impact that the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense had on colonists’ views of government.
Learning Goals/Benchmark Clarifications
Students will identify the important ideas contained in the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Common Sense.
Students will evaluate the impact that the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Common Sense had on the purposes of government.

3. BELL RINGER
Create this chart on your own paper. Complete only the “I think it means…” portion.

4. Hey, What’s the big idea?
Read Colonial Influences and Complete Understanding the Influence Chart.
What is the main idea from the first two paragraphs? What does this tell you about who influenced the colonists ideas about government?
You will read about five different historical documents that have influenced the colonists’ ideas about government. Your task is to read about each document, explain its main purpose, identify the “big idea” that emerged from the document and explain the relationship between the big idea and the document in their own words.

5. Handout
In your Lesson notes, write “Refer to Lesson 5 Classwork Sheet”
I will now distribute the Influential Documents handout
I recommend also taking additional notes in your “notes” section.

6. Magna Carta, 1215
Provided the idea of limited government, but more specifically a limited monarchy. Limited the power of the king by guaranteeing rights to the people.
These rights were:
no cruel & unusual punishment
the right to a fair and speedy trial by your peers
the government must have the peoples approval to levy taxes

7. Mayflower Compact, 1620
Written by the Pilgrims when they landed near Plymouth
It is a contract of self government where government is organized for the good of the people

8. English Bill of Rights, 1689
Monarchs William and Mary of Orange agree to allow the parliament (people) power over the monarchy
Additional rights gained:
freedom of speech and debate
no excessive bails, right to petition government and a right to trial

9. Cato’s Letters, (FYI)
John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon = Cato
Published in British newspapers
Purpose was to help freedom of speech
Many American colonists had copies in their homes

10. Thomas Paine – Common Sense, 1776
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense supported the colonists seeking independence from England. The pamphlet supported the idea of self-government for the colonists and spoke out against the king restricting the colonists’ rights.

11. PREAMBLE– The intro to the Constitution
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”
Learn it with a song:

12. Content Vocabulary
Part of Speech
Definition
compact
noun
an official agreement made by two or more parties
Common Sense
proper noun
a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England
English Bill of Rights
a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689
due process
the idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws, and that government leaders and officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and treat all people in the same way
limited government
a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement
limited monarchy
a system of government in which the king or queen shares authority with an elected legislature and agrees to be bound by a constitution or a set of laws, also known as a constitutional monarchy
Magna Carta
a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215
Mayflower Compact
an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620
Preamble
the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
rights
a set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
rule of law
a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law
self-government
popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Thomas Paine
the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776

13. Word/Term
Part of Speech
Definition
compact
noun
an official agreement made by two or more parties
Common Sense
proper noun
a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England
English Bill of Rights
a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689
due process
the idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws, and that government leaders and officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and treat all people in the same way
limited government
a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement
limited monarchy
a system of government in which the king or queen shares authority with an elected legislature and agrees to be bound by a constitution or a set of laws, also known as a constitutional monarchy
Magna Carta
a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215
Mayflower Compact
an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620
Preamble
the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
rights
a set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
rule of law
a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law
self-government
popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Thomas Paine
the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776

14. Homework – due next class
Using your handout and notes as reference, describe what the following documents did IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Magna Carta
Mayflower Compact
English Bill of Rights
Cato’s Letters
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
And then write a sentence or two about how these documents influenced the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence (American government)

15. Additional Notes

16. Additional notes