Our English HeritageOur English Heritage

Mr. RileyMr. RileyFoundations Lesson 4Foundations Lesson 4

Influences From England’s Early Influences From England’s Early GovernmentGovernment

Many of the rights that Many of the rights that American citizens enjoy American citizens enjoy today can be traced back today can be traced back to Englandto England

England was ruled by a England was ruled by a coalition of a monarch and coalition of a monarch and the nobles who supported the nobles who supported himhim

Following a rebellion in Following a rebellion in 1215 the nobles forced 1215 the nobles forced King John to sign the King John to sign the Magna Carta; guaranteed Magna Carta; guaranteed rights of all landholdersrights of all landholders

By the late 1300’s the By the late 1300’s the kings noble advisors kings noble advisors formed a legislative body formed a legislative body called the Parliamentcalled the Parliament

King John signing the Magna King John signing the Magna CartaCarta

Influences From England’s Early Influences From England’s Early GovernmentGovernment

1688-1689: Parliament 1688-1689: Parliament replaces the King, draws replaces the King, draws up the English Bill of Rights up the English Bill of Rights and takes prominence in and takes prominence in EnglandEngland

Bill of Rights protected Bill of Rights protected Parliament's laws, limited Parliament's laws, limited the monarchs power, the monarchs power, called for elections, and called for elections, and provided for a trial by juryprovided for a trial by jury

In its earliest days England In its earliest days England had no written law, judges had no written law, judges based their decisions on based their decisions on precedentprecedent

What is precedent? Why What is precedent? Why does it matter?does it matter?

English ParliamentEnglish Parliament

Bringing the English Heritage to Bringing the English Heritage to AmericaAmerica

Although early colonists had Although early colonists had left England they brought with left England they brought with them many of its political and them many of its political and legal traditionslegal traditions

Jamestown was the first Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement permanent English settlement in North America; formed the in North America; formed the House of Burgesses to deal House of Burgesses to deal with problems like hunger, with problems like hunger, disease, and Indiansdisease, and Indians

Marked the beginning of self-Marked the beginning of self-government in colonial government in colonial AmericaAmerica

Pilgrims who were sailing for Pilgrims who were sailing for Plymouth drew up a written Plymouth drew up a written plan of govt. called the plan of govt. called the Mayflower Compact, set up a Mayflower Compact, set up a direct democracydirect democracy

Mayflower CompactMayflower Compact

Early Colonial GovernmentsEarly Colonial Governments By 1733, 13 English colonies By 1733, 13 English colonies

stretched from stretched from Massachusetts to Georgia, Massachusetts to Georgia, each new colony had its each new colony had its own governmentown government

Each colony had a governor, Each colony had a governor, who was elected or chosen who was elected or chosen by the King, and each had a by the King, and each had a legislature legislature

As years passed, colonial As years passed, colonial government took on more government took on more power and responsibility power and responsibility while the King and while the King and Parliament dealt with issues Parliament dealt with issues in Englandin England

The colonists grew used to The colonists grew used to making their own decisions, making their own decisions, significance?significance?

Colonial Resistance and RebellionColonial Resistance and Rebellion By the mid-1700’s the British By the mid-1700’s the British

govt. began to tighten its govt. began to tighten its grip on the coloniesgrip on the colonies

Britain adopted the policy of Britain adopted the policy of mercantilism; country should mercantilism; country should sell more goods than it buys, sell more goods than it buys, effect on America?effect on America?

Britain also began taxing the Britain also began taxing the colonists in order to finance a colonists in order to finance a war against France; colonists war against France; colonists demanded “no taxation demanded “no taxation without representation”without representation”

Stamp Act required colonists Stamp Act required colonists to use tax stamps on paper to use tax stamps on paper products, colonists boycotted products, colonists boycotted and Parliament pulled backand Parliament pulled back

George Washington fighting George Washington fighting the Frenchthe French

Colonial Resistance and RebellionColonial Resistance and Rebellion 1773: Parliament passes the 1773: Parliament passes the

Tea Act which gave a British Tea Act which gave a British tea company advantages tea company advantages over colonial merchantsover colonial merchants

In protest a group of colonists In protest a group of colonists in Boston dumped 342 chests in Boston dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harborof British tea into the harbor

Parliament responded by Parliament responded by passing the Coercive passing the Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts; laws Acts/Intolerable Acts; laws restricted colonists rights, restricted colonists rights, including trial by jury, and including trial by jury, and allowed soldiers to search allowed soldiers to search and live in homesand live in homes

Colonial govts. banded Colonial govts. banded together and in Sept. 1774, together and in Sept. 1774, 12 of the colonies sent 12 of the colonies sent delegates to Philadelphiadelegates to Philadelphia

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Movement Towards IndependenceMovement Towards Independence First Continental Congress: First Continental Congress:

lasted 7 weeks, sent a lasted 7 weeks, sent a document to King George III document to King George III demanding that their rights demanding that their rights be restoredbe restored

King George responded King George responded through force, in April 1775 through force, in April 1775 two battles between British two battles between British soldiers and colonial soldiers soldiers and colonial soldiers took place in Mass.took place in Mass.

After these battles many After these battles many colonists began talking colonists began talking about independenceabout independence

May 1775: Second May 1775: Second Continental Congress Continental Congress formed to discuss formed to discuss independence, little independence, little agreement agreement

British begin the attackBritish begin the attack