The American Colonists• A voice in government• Electing representatives to the

legislature• No taxation without

representation• Citizens participate in

government through voting• Citizens have the responsibility

to work toward the common good

• Value placed on religious freedom and freedom of the press (Roger Williams/John Peter Zenger)

• Citizens standing up for their rights

• Principles– DEMOCRACY– POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY– INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES– PROTECTION AGAINST

TYRANNY

The English

• A documented list of rights that not even the government can take away (Magna Carta, 1215; English Bill of Rights 1689)

• Right to a trial by jury• Free speech• Freedom to petition

the government

• Principles:– LIMITED

GOVERNMENT & RULE OF LAW

– PROTECTION AGAINST TYRANNY

Ancient Greece and Rome

• Direct and Indirect democracy– People participate in

governing (through voting)– Elected representatives

(republic)– Term limits– People and the

government work toward the common good

Principles:DEMOCRACYBALANCED GOVERNMENTLIMITED GOVERNMENT

Enlightenment Philosophers• John Locke – The Social

Contract theory– The people and their

government enter into an agreement together. Both have responsibilities.

– The purpose of government is protect the natural rights of the people

– If the government fails to do so, the people have an obligation to change the government

• Baron de Montesquieu – separation of powers to safe guard against tyranny (creation of three branches of government)

• Principles:– POPULAR CONSENT– POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY– SEPARATION OF POWERS

Declaration of Independence• Jefferson bases most of his

writing on the principles of John Locke’s Social Contract Theory– The purpose of government is

to protect the natural/unalienable rights of the people (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness)

– If the government fails to do so, the people should change or get rid of their government and start a new one

– Popular consent: The government gets their power from the people and should seek their approval

The Articles of Confederation

• Our first national plan of government

• Written by the 2nd Continental Congress in 1777; takes effect in 1781

• Based on a loose association, or confederation of states

• A very weak central gov’t– Only has a legislature– No power to tax– No power to enforce laws– No power to regulate

foreign trade

PRINCIPLES:

Protection against tyranny

Federalism: a system of government where powers are more evenly distributed between the state and national government including some shared powers