who makes the rules?
TRANSCRIPT
Who Makes the Rules?
Absolute Monarchies&
Constitutional Government
Limited and UnlimitedGovernments
Government
Limited UnlimitedO Restraints are
placed on the power and authority of government
O Individual rights and freedoms are restrained
O Total obedience to the government is expected
EnglandO King John had been a strong
supporter of absolute monarchy, believing he should have total control over the peopleO Divine right – belief that God has
given monarchs the authority to ruleO 1215- English nobles forced King
John to sign the Magna CartaO Established the idea of limited
governmentO Stated that people have certain rights
FranceOKing Louis XIV known as the “Sun
King” for the belief that all revolved around him
OBanned the “Estates-General” (France’s Congress) from meeting
OControlled taxes, the military, and business
OLeft the country in debt and with many enemies at his death
RussiaOPeter I (Peter the Great) believed in
divine right to ruleOFollowed the French example instead
of the BritishOMade himself the head of the Russian
Orthodox churchOUsed his power to strengthen Russia
OExpanded technology, science, business, and military
Glorious RevolutionO1215: King John signs the Magna CartaO1485-1603: Tudors reign, monarchs do
not have absolute powerO1603: Queen Elizabeth dies without
children, her cousin James I becomes king. King James believes in divine right, doesn’t tolerate the questioning of his authority
O1625: James I dies, Charles I becomes king and tries to govern by divine right
O1628: Parliament enacts the Petition of Rights which bans the king from…OPassing taxes without the consent of
ParliamentOQuartering troops in private homesO Imprisoning a person without charges
O1642: Charles ignores PoR, favors Catholics. Oliver Cromwell organizes army in support of Parliament, conflict between king and parliament starts English civil war.
O1646: Parliament wins control of government
O1647: Charles I is tried & executed. Attempt is made to end monarchy and establish representative government. This fails so Cromwell imposes martial law (rule by the military).
O1658: Oliver Cromwell dies, his son, Richard, takes over.
O1660: Monarchy restored, Charles II (son of Charles I) is made king….this is called the Restoration.
O1685: Charles II dies without children. His brother, James II, becomes king.
O1688: James and his wife are Catholic, when they have a child the Parliament fears the establishment of a Catholic monarchy. To prevent this, the Parliament invites James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, to take the throne. This bloodless takeover is called the Glorious Revolution.
O1689: English Bill of Rights of 1689 limits the monarchy & states the rights of Parliament and the people.
The Enlightenment
Thomas Hobbes
OState of Nature- people without government
OSocial Contract Theory- government is created as an agreement between people to benefit each other
John Locke (English)O Influenced by the Glorious RevolutionO Thought the “state of nature” was goodO “Social contract” was voluntaryO Purpose of government was/is to protect
rights of citizensO If the government doesn’t protect those
rights the people have the right to get rid of the government
O Influenced Thomas Jefferson and the American Revolution
Jean-Jacques RousseauOBelieved society had a corrupting
influence on peopleOIt was/is the role of government to
protect the “general will” of the peopleOThey must enact policies that are
beneficial to the population in generalOInfluenced those arguing for
totalitarian governments
Baron de MontesquieuOPromoted the idea of the separation of powers and checks & balances
OAdmired the English system of unlimited government
OInfluence is seen in the US Constitution
Constitutions and Government
What is a “constitution”?
O The “law” which establishes the structure and operation of government and details the relationship of the people to their government
Positive vs. NegativeO Centers on the
roles and responsibilities that a government IS SUPPOSED TO PERFORM
O Focuses on the LIMITS PLACED on the government
Forms of Government