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Chapter 2: Origins of American GovernmentSection 1

Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 2Chapter 2, Section 1

Objectives

1. Identify the three concepts ofgovernment that influenced the Americancolonies.

2. Explain the influence of three landmarkEnglish documents.

3. Describe the three types of colonies thatthe English established in the Americancolonies.


Key Terms

• limited government: the idea that governmentis restricted in what it may do and that everyindividual has certain rights that governmentcannot remove

• representative government: the idea thatgovernment should both serve and be guided bythe will of the people

• Magna Carta: the Great Charter signed in 1215that limited the powers of the English king andguaranteed certain fundamental rights


Key Terms, cont.

• due process: protection against the unjusttaking of life, liberty, or property

• Petition of Right: a document signed in 1628that required the English king to obey the law ofthe land and increased the influence ofParliament

• English Bill of Rights: a document signed in1689 that required free elections and guaranteedmany basic rights, such as due process and trialby jury, to all English citizens


Key Terms, cont.

• charter: a written grant of authority fromthe king

• bicameral: having two houses, as in atwo-house legislature

• proprietary: the name given to coloniesorganized and governed according to thewill of a proprietor, a person granted landand authority by the king

• unicameral: having only one house, as ina one house legislature


Introduction

• What ideas and traditions influencedgovernment in the English Colonies?– English customs and ideas about government,

including:• The idea of ordered government• The principle of limited government• The principle of representative government

– English historical documents, including:• The Magna Carta• The Petition of Right• The English Bill of Rights


Concepts of Government

• The English colonists brought with them politicalideas that had developed over centuries inEngland.

– Some ideas, such as the rule of law, had roots inearly Asian and African civilizations.

– Other influences came from the ancient Romans, whooccupied England.

– Many key political ideas were written into landmarkEnglish documents.


Key Political Concepts

• Ordered government– Local governments should be divided into units and

ruled by officers according to law.

• Limited government– Individual citizens have basic rights– There are limits on government power

• Representative government– Government should serve the will of the people. In

other words, people should have a say in what thegovernment does or does not do.


The Magna Carta

• Signed by King John in1215

• Created by Englishbarons to put limits on theonce absolute power ofthe King.

– Guaranteed certainfundamental rights for theprivileged, such as trial byjury and due process oflaw. Over time, these rightswere extended to allEnglish people.

NOTE TO TEACHERS: In above image, King John signs the Magna Carta,limiting his own power.


The Petition of Right

• The Petition of Right wassigned by King Charles Iin 1628.

– Banned the king fromimprisoning or punishingpeople without firstfollowing the laws of theland.

– Kept the king fromdeclaring military rule intimes of peace ormaking people housesoldiers.

– Required the consent ofParliament for taxation.


The English Bill of Rights

• Checkpoint: What were the limitationsset by the English Bill of Rights?– The English Bill of Rights was drawn up by

Parliament in 1689 to prevent the abuse ofpower by all future monarchs.• Required the consent of Parliament for taxation

and suspension of laws.• Promised the right to a fair trial, and to petition

the monarchy to correct injustices.

Checkpoint Answer: These “limitations” can also be seen as rights. Theyinclude the right to trial by jury, to due process, to bear arms, and to petition,as well as freedom from cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail orfines.


American Rights

• This chart comparesthe rights guaranteedby the Magna Cartaand the English Billof Rights with thefreedoms listed in theVirginia Bill ofRights and the Bill ofRights in the U.S.Constitution.

Feature Question Answer: The right to petition ensures that abuses of powercan be made public and that citizens have the right to bring any abuses to theattention of the monarchy, making their voices heard and raising publicawareness of injustices.


The Thirteen Colonies

• The colonies were established over a span of125 years.– Virginia was the first colony, founded in 1607.– Georgia was the last, formed in 1733.

• The similarities among the colonies ultimatelyoutweighed their differences.

• Each colony was established on the basis of acharter granted by the king.– These charters granted some governing authority to

the colonies and kept some for the king.


Three Types of Colonies

• Royal colonies were directlycontrolled by the king.

• Proprietary colonies wererun by a proprietor chosenby the king.

• Charter colonies were runmainly by electedlegislatures and were themost independent.

– How many royal colonieswere left at this time? Howwere royal colonies andcharter colonies different?

Map Question Answer: In 1775, there were 8 royal colonies, 3 proprietarycolonies, and two charter colonies. Royal colonies were run mainly bygovernors appointed by the king, whereas charter colonies were run mainly bylegislatures elected by the colonists and thus had greater independence.


Royal Colonies

• The governor was appointed by the king.

• The upper house of the colonial legislaturewas also appointed by the king and servedas the colony’s highest court.

• The lower house was elected by colonistswho owned enough property to vote.

• The governor had to approve all laws.


Proprietary Colonies

• The proprietor appointed the governor.

• These colonies were run much like royalcolonies.

• Of the proprietary colonies, Pennsylvaniahad an unusually democratic governmentwith a unicameral legislature.


Charter Colonies

• Checkpoint: What is the difference between a proprietarycolony and a charter colony?– Governors in charter colony were elected by property-

owning colonists and lacked veto power.

– The elected bicameral legislature could pass laws withoutthe approval of the king.

– Judges were appointed by the legislature.

– Virginia and Massachusetts each had their chartersrevoked, becoming royal colonies.

– Charter colonies enjoyed the most freedoms.

Checkpoint Answer: In a proprietary colony, the proprietor could set up thegovernment as he saw fit, whereas charter colonies placed most of the powerin the hands of the elected members of the colonial legislature.


Review

• Now that you have learned what ideas andtraditions influenced government in theEnglish Colonies, go back and answer theChapter Essential Question.– How does the Constitution reflect the times in

which it was written?

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