Colonial Foundations

Constitutional Foundations for the

US Democratic Republic

*The Constitution is the
foundation of American
Society – who and what
contributed to that
foundation?

Greeks and Romans

● Greeks (Athens)-

Direct
Democracy

● Romans -

Representative
Democracy
(Republic)

Enlightenment Philosophers

●John Locke (England)

●Natural Rights (life, liberty,
property).

●Govt exists to protect these
rights and gets it’s power from
the “consent of the governed.”

●If the social contract between the
people and their govt is broken,
then the people have the right to
change rulers/govt (revolution).

Multiple Choice

According to John Locke why does the government exist ?

• To be the supreme rulers of the land

• To protect the natural rights for the people

• Start wars in other countries

Enlightenment Philosophers

● Montesquieu (France)

● Believed that

governments should be
balanced and
separated to guarantee
individual rights and
prevent too strong of a
govt (separation of
powers, checks &
balances)

Multiple Choice

What did Montesquieu believe a government should be?

• Super strong federal government

• A balanced and separated government

• Communist

Enlightenment Philosophers

● Rousseau (France)

● Emphasized the

“General Will” of the
people.

– Doing what is best for

the group.

– Social contract between

the ruler and the ruled.

Open Ended

Explain what a social contract is?

Enlightenment Philosophers

● Voltaire (France)

● Believed that people

deserved more freedom
and rights (civil
liberties.)

● He argued for freedom

of speech and against
religious intolerance
and persecution.
(Freedom of Religion)

● Friend of Ben Franklin

Multiple Choice

What did Voltaire believe in and argue for?

• Civil Liberties like Freedom of speech and against religious tolerance

• 1 Leader and he makes all the rules

• Only men can vote if they are 35 years old and own property

Foundation of American Rights

● Magna Carta (1215) –trial by jury, due

process

● English Bill of Rights (1689)—right to

petition, no cruel punishment or excessive
fines

● Bill of Rights (1791)—freedom of speech,

press, religion

British Colonies

● Mayflower Compact (1620)

– Self-government

● House of Burgesses (1619)

– Legislative branch in Virginia

– 1st self-govt body in America

● John Peter Zenger libel case (1735)

– Freedom of the Press!

– Not guilty of seditious libel if true!

Match

Match the foundation article with what it established

• Bill of Rights

• Magna Carta

• Mayflower Compact/ House of Burgesses

Nature rights and civil liberties

Trial by jury and Due Process rights

Self Government

• Nature rights and civil liberties

• Trial by jury and Due Process rights

• Self Government

Iroquois League (Confederacy)

● 5 Nations

– Seneca

– Cayuga

– Onondaga

– Oneida

– Mohawk

● Loose Union of tribes

where the power rested
in the hands of each
individual tribe.

French & Indian War 1754-1763

● Rivalry between France and Britain spilled

over to the colonies in North America.

● The French joined with the Indians to fight

the British in the French & Indian War, which
ignited a global conflict called the Seven
Years’ War.

● While the British won the war – it proved to

be very expensive and someone had to pay.