Roots of American Democracy

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Chapter 2

• Roots of American Democracy
• Section 1 Our English Heritage
• Section 2 The Colonial experience
• Section 3 Toward Independence
• Section 4 The Nations First Governments

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Introduction

• This is where it all began
• http//www.ushistory.org

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Section 1 Our English Heritage

• Warm-up
• Why is this section titled Our English
  Heritage? Explain.

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Objectives

• 1.) Describe the development of Parliament.
• 2.) Explain how English government changed after
  the Glorious Rebellion.
• 3.) Explain what is meant by an unwritten
  constitution.
• 4.) Discuss Englands system of common law.

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Vocabulary

• Parliament - the British legislature (p.28)
• Legislature - a group of people who make laws for
  a state or country (p.28)
• precedent - a ruling that is used as the basis
  for a judicial decision in a later, similar case
  (p.30)
• common law - a system of law that is based on
  precedent (p.30)

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1.) The Magna Carta

• A.) The Magna Carta means Great Charter
• B.) King John was forced by the Nobles of England
  to sign the Magana Carta in 1215.
• C.) It stated that the Kings power had certain
  limits and that he, too, had to obey the laws.

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2.) The Development of Parliament

• A.) Henry III, who was King after John, had a
  group of advisers who helped him govern England.
• B.) This group became known as Parliament.
• C.) By late 1300s this group developed into a
  legislature.
• D.) The King ruled but Parliament took over the
  day-to-day work of governing.

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2.) The Development of Parliament

• E.) Parliament was split into 2 houses The upper
  house or House of Lords and the lower house or
  House of Commons.
• F.) House of Lords - grew out of a group of
  nobles.
• G.) House of Commons - made up of representatives
  of towns and counties.

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3.) The Glorious Revolution

• A.) In 1688, Parliament removed King James and
  placed William and Mary of the throne.
• B.) It demonstrated that Parliaments power was
  now greater than the Kings.
• C.) Parliaments power came from English citizens
  and no rulers power would be greater than that
  of the legislature.

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3.) The Glorious Revolution

• D.) In 1689, Parliament drew up a bill of rights.
• E.) The English Bill of Rights gave Parliament
  the sole power to make laws, raise taxes, and
  control the nations army.
• F.) It also set up a system for parliamentary
  elections.

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4.) Unwritten Constitution

• A.) The U.S. government is based on a written
  constitution.
• B.) The government of England has no written
  constitution.
• C.) Even though it is not written, many documents
  helped to shape English government Magana Carta
  English Bill of Rights.

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5.) Common Law

• A.) If enough people follow a certain law. Then
  the law exists, even if it is not written.
• B.) Early on, England had no written laws. The
  monarch or king could make and change laws at
  will.
• C.) The monarch or king could also punish
  citizens for breaking laws or at will.
• D.) Over centuries, a system of courts was
  developed in England and their decisions were the
  basis of a system of law.

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5.) Common Law

• E.) When judges were asked to render a decision
  on a case, they often looked for a precedent or a
  ruling in an earlier case that was similar.
• F.) This system of law, based on precedents, is
  known as common law.
• G.) American common law is similar. Today, our
  laws about property, contracts, and personal
  injuries are based on English common law.

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Section 1 Review / Assessment

• 1.) How did the English Parliament develop?
• Answer It started as an advisory board to the
  king, developed into a legislature, then into a
  two-house lawmaking body, and then into citizen
  rule through the legislature.

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Section 1 Review / Assessment

• 2.) How did the government of England change
  after the Glorious Revolution?
• Answer The people, not the monarch or king,
  became the source of Parliaments power. The
  English Bill of Rights was also written.

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Section 1 Review / Assessment

• 3.) What is meant by an unwritten constitution?
• Answer An unwritten constitution is based on
  customs and various written documents, but no
  single document contains a master plan of
  government.

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Section 1 Review / Assessment

• 4.) What is English common law?
• Answer a system of law based on precedent

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Close

• Which rights granted to British subjects in the
  English Bill of Rights are the most important
  today and why?