Section 1.2: Government in Colonial America

Section 1.2: Government in Colonial America

Sources of Ideas for American Government

​-British Political (Government) Traditions
-Enlightenment Philosophers
-Judeo-Christian values/ideas

Multiple Choice

What country did the United States adopt most of their political (government) ideas from?

• France

• Germany

• Italy

• Great Britain

Limited Government: Govt. Must follow a set of laws.
Constitution/Charter: A body or set of rules/laws.

Ex: The Magna Carta (1215):
-The first Document to Limit the Power of the British Monarchy.
-The "Great Charter" -> Notable Example of Limited Government.

Magna Carta -> Created British "Parliament"

-Official Law-Making Body of Great Britain (Legislature).


-Bicameral (Two Chambers): House of Commons & Lords.

The English Bill of Rights

-Established supremacy of Parliament > King/QUeen
-Guaranteed notable freedoms to British Citizens
-Ex: Speech, Petition, No Cruel/Unusual Punishment, etc.
-Used as a model/preview for the US Bill of Rights (1789)

Salutary Neglect
-American Colonies governed themselves (Great Distance)

-Britain allowed Political & Economic freedom (Trade)

Fill in the Blanks

Representative Govt.
-People elected delegates to Make laws/conduct Govt.

-Elected representatives (People) -> Republic (Govt. System)

The Enlightenment

​-European Intellectual movement -> "Age of Reason"
-Emphasized Liberty/Natural Rights
-Challenged Divine Right THeory ("God-Given Right to Rule")

​Notable Enlightenment Philosophers (Hobbes/Locke/Rousseau)

-Associated w/ developing the "Social Contract Theory"
-(People give up some freedom in exchange for peace/order.)

-"Natural Rights" = Life, Liberty & Property.
-People Born w/ Rights the Govt. Shouldn't Take w/o cause.
-Influenced Thomas Jefferson -> Declaration of Independence.

​

John Locke -> Major Influence on American Govt.

Drag and Drop

John Locke is a notable philosopher considered to be part of the ​

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. Arguably his most notable contribution was developing the concept of ​

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. These are rights that the government should not take away. These were used by ​

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when he wrote the ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Enlightenment

Natural Rights

Thomas Jefferson

Declaration of Independence

George Washington

US Constitution

Montesquieu
-Advocated for a separation of powers in govt.
(Usa used this idea -> 3 Branches

Voltaire
-supporter of separation of church and state.
(freedom of speech/religion -> 1st Amendment

Match

Match the following Enlightenment Philosophers to their important ideas:

• John Locke

• Montesquieu

• Voltaire

Natural Rights

Separation of Powers

Separation of Church and State

• Natural Rights

• Separation of Powers

• Separation of Church and State

Who could vote in the American colonies?

-Suffrage: Right to Vote (Only White Males w/ Property)
-Women, MInorities, and Native Americans could not vote.

Multiple Choice

Who could vote in the American colonies?

• White Males w/ Property

• Minorities

• Women

• Native Americans

Virginia House of Burgesses
-1st Elected legislature in the American colonies (1619).
-First Ex. of Colonial Self-Govt. (Salutary Neglect)

Mayflower Compact
-1st written plan of self-govt. in the American Colonies.
-Written by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower (1620).

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

-Colonial America's first formal constitution (1639).

Match

Match the following examples of self-government in the American colonies to their correct definitions:

• Virginia House of Burgesses

• Mayflower Compact

• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

First Elected Legislature

First Written Plan of Self-Govt.

First Formal Constitution

• First Elected Legislature

• First Written Plan of Self-Govt.

• First Formal Constitution