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Unit Two: What experiences shaped the Founders’ thinking about government? How were Americans influenced by their Englis

Unit Two: What experiences shaped the Founders’ thinking about government? How were Americans influenced by their English background?. We the People - Lesson Five. American’s knowledge of British Government.

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Unit Two: What experiences shaped the Founders’ thinking about government? How were Americans influenced by their Englis

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  1. Unit Two: What experiences shaped the Founders’ thinking about government?How were Americans influenced by their English background? We the People - Lesson Five

  2. American’s knowledge of British Government • American colonies ruled by British government for over 150 years before American Revolution • Framers were greatly influenced by their experiences with British government • Framers influenced by their knowledge of history Understanding what they knew is important to understanding why they wrote the Constitution as they did.

  3. Feudal System • Royalty - included monarch (king or queen) and his/her family • government ruled by a monarch is called a monarchy • Nobility - Lords and Ladies (hold titles such as earl, duke, duchess, and baron) • worked for the king and made it possible for him to control all of England • Common People - knights, merchants, and peasants (serfs) • peasants were not free - worked the land and couldn’t leave the land they worked • King / Queen owned all land - shared responsibility of running kingdom with nobility • Nobles allowed to control parts of land and in exchange pledged their loyalty to the king and fought for him

  4. Magna Carta - 1215 A.D.(Great Charter) • Nobles forced King John to sign agreement - they would obey the king as long as he protected their rights. • Magna Carta major step in growth of English constitutional government - contained two major ideas: • Government by contract: agreement between ruler and people to be ruled - both responsible for fulfilling its terms • The idea of rule of law: both the government and the governed must obey the law - consequences if laws are broken • Limits the power of government • Magna Carta important step in protecting rights of people and limiting power of government • Men who owned property had more rights than others • Men without property, women, and children had fewer rights • Paved a way for English Bill of rights. . .

  5. Establishment of Parliament • In 1258, the nobles forced King Henry III to create a council called Parliament to advise the monarch. • Parliament was made up of two houses which represented the most powerful groups in the kingdom • House of Lords: Represented the nobles • House of Commons: Represented people who owned large amounts of land but were not members of nobility • Royalty, nobility, and commons struggled for power hundreds of years after the creation of Parliament • Civil war in the 17th century • Nobles won in 1649 • Parliament ordered the execution of the king • Glorious Revolution of 1688 • Balance of power shifted to Parliament

  6. The English Bill of Rights - 1689 - Gave rights to Englishmen and further limited powers of the monarch - Gave Parliament the balance of power in the English government • Elections to Parliament must be free and people have the right to keep and carry weapons - Kings and queens were not allowed to: • collect taxes without the consent of Parliament • interfere with the right to free speech and debate what went on in Parliament • maintain an army in times of peace (since it may be used to overtake government • require excessive bail or administer cruel punishment for those accused or convicted of crimes • declare that laws made by Parliament should not be obeyed • By the end of the 17th century, the British government became increasingly limited in what it could do • The government was establishing colonies in North America during this time • The colonists brought with them the English system of constitutional government How is the English Bill of Rights similar to our Bill of Rights?

  7. Compare and Contrast The Magna Carta was written in 1215 and the English Bill of Rights was passed in 1689. During more than 400 years between these documents, many changes occurred in the English government. Create a venn-diagram showing the following: What basic rights that you think are important were not included in either of these documents? What was in the English Bill of Rights? What was in the Magna Carta?

  8. Seatwork Center Questions • How and why did feudal kings in England share their power? • What were some of the basic rights included in the Magna Carta? • Parliament won a struggle with the king in 1689, when the English Bill of Rights was adopted. Which parts of the English Bill of Rights do you think the Framers might have included in our Constitution? Explain your answers. • Four ideas that were very important to the Framers were limited government, the balance of power, and separation of powers. Give examples of these ideas from English government.

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