Influential People and Historical Documents

Mr. Webster’s Class

Vocabulary• checks and balances – a principle of the federal government that allows

each branch of government the ability to limit the power of the other branches• natural rights – the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that

cannot be taken away by governments• separation of powers – the structure of the federal government that sets up

three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities• social contract – an implied agreement among the people of an organized

society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government• compact – an official agreement made by two or more parties• 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• limited government – a government that has been limited in power by a

constitution, or written agreement

Early English Influences

• The Roman Empire collapsed around A.D. 476. For the next 700 years, kings and lords ruled most of Europe.• Lords were noblemen who

usually inherited wealth, land, and power.• Over time, kings gained

greater control of their kingdoms, and lords resisted this change.

The Magna Carta

• In 1215, a group of English nobles rose up against King John and forced him to sign a document called the Magna Carta.• The Magna Carta limited the king’s

power.• It forbade him from placing certain

taxes on the nobles without their consent, and it gave rights to free men.• The Magna Carta is important because it established the principle of limited government.

The Origins of English Parliament

• Kings who came after John were advised by nobles and church officials.• Gradually this group grew to

include representatives of the common people as well.• By the late 1300s, the advisers

had become a legislature, or lawmaking body. It was called Parliament.• Over the next 300 years,

Parliament’s power gradually strengthened.

The Glorious Revolution

• In 1688, Parliament forced King James II from the throne, and asked James’s daughter Mary and her husband, William, to rule instead. • This transfer of power is known as

the Glorious Revolution.• Before William and Mary could take

power, they had to accept rules set by Parliament. • The rights set out by Parliament

became known as the English Bill of Rights.

The English Bill of Rights

• The English Bill of Rights is important because it stated that all English citizens had rights that no king could violate. • It also stated that citizens had the

right to a fair trial, and they could not be taxed unless Parliament agreed.• The signing of the English Bill of Rights

signaled the end of the struggle between Parliament and the monarch. • Parliament was now the leading force

in English government.

The Enlightenment

• The Enlightenment was a period in European history (c. 1650-1790) when many intellectuals began emphasizing reason over tradition.• Enlightenment thinkers believed in logic and rationality, and they opposed superstition.• The ideas of the Enlightenment influenced the creation of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

Thomas Hobbes

• Thomas Hobbes believed that a social contract existed between government and the people. • In this social contract, the people agreed to give up some freedom and be ruled by government. In return, government had to protect people’s rights.• Hobbes, though, thought that people needed a strong leader because they were too selfish to rule themselves.

John Locke• John Locke believed that all human beings were born with certain God-given rights, called natural rights. These included the rights to life, liberty, and property.• Like Hobbes, Locke believed in the idea of a social contract.• Unlike Hobbes though, Locke believed that if a ruler failed to protect his people, the social contract was broken and the people could choose new leaders. • Locke’s ideas influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Baron de Montesquieu• Baron de Montesquieu developed the idea that the power of government should be divided into branches.• That way, no one branch would become too strong and threaten people’s rights. • Montesquieu called this idea the separation of powers.• Montesquieu’s ideas guided the Founding Fathers when they wrote the United States Constitution.

Documents that Influenced the American System of Government• Magna Carta – a document created in 1215 that limited the

power of the king and protected certain rights of the nobles• Mayflower Compact – an agreement made by the Pilgrims in

1620 to create a government that would serve the common good• English Bill of Rights – this document from 1689 expanded the

rights of the Parliament and the people, while limiting the king’s powers• Cato’s Letters – newspaper editorials from the 1720s that

criticized the king’s heavy-handed rule• Common Sense – a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine and

published in 1776 that explained the argument for independence in a way that was easy for American colonists to understand