Colonial Influences

ColonialInfluences Mayflower Compact Cato’s Letters Common Sense English Bill of Rights Magna Carta Collection of Good Ideas Where did America get its ideas about government? Please pick up 2 sheets out of bellwork box.

Back to the beginning • Aristotle: • Greece, 300’s BC, student of Plato • Philosophy school, called the Lyceum in Athens • author of “Aristotle’s Politics,” a series of essays on government • Citizens: all should share in the civic life of ruling and being ruled in turn

What’s the ideal government? • According to Aristotle, can government succeed in a democracy? • We must examine his words to explain his position….. • Do Aristotle Activity

“Right” and “Wrong” constitutions • Kingship • Vs. Tyranny • Aristocracy • Vs. Oligarchy • Polity • Vs. Democracy

Aristotle stated that “the rule of law . . . is preferable to that of any individual.” This is because individuals possess flaws and could tailor government to their own individual interests, whereas the rule of law is objective. • [H]e who bids the law rule may be deemed to bid God and Reason alone rule, but he who bids man rule adds an element of the beast; for desire is a wild beast, and passion perverts the minds of rulers, even when they are the best of men. The law is reason unaffected by desire. • Rulers must be “the servants of the laws,” because “law is order, and good law is good order.” • In addition to law, Aristotle believed a large middle class would protect against the excesses of oligarchy and democracy: • [T]he best political community is formed by citizens of the middle class, and that those states are likely to be well-administered in which the middle class is large, and stronger if possible than both the other classes . . . ; for the addition of the middle class turns the scale, and prevents either of the extremes from being dominant. • SUMMARY: a polity, a mix of an aristocracy with some sense of democracy, supported by a strong middle class

What is Justice? • Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on: ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, equity and fairness.

Continued… • Justice takes into account the inalienable and inborn rights of all human beings and citizens, the right of all people and individuals to equal protection before the law of their civil rights, without discrimination

What’s the Big Idea • Bellwork: Define the following terms, as best you know them. • Self Government • Rights • Rule of Law • Due Process • Limited Government

Colonial Influences • Examine the following 5 influences on the writers of our Constitution • Activity

Magna Carta The Magna Carta was a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility. It was written by the English nobility in 1215. • Big Ideas: • Limited Government • Rights • Rule of Law • Due Process Magna Carta

King John (think Robin Hood…) vs. the barons/nobility • At issue: high taxes (to pay for wars and such) and abuse of power • Tussle with the Pope • Barons approach King with demands; he refuses. Could have led to civil war. • To prevent, King agrees to meeting at Runnymeade.

The Great Charter • “no free man arrested or imprisoned or (property taken) ….without the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land” • Translation:

Mayflower Compact The Mayflower Compact was an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists. It was written by a group of English Puritans as they traveled to Massachusetts in 1620. • Big Ideas: • Self Government • Rule of Law Mayflower Compact Magna Carta

The Compact • "Modern" version In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.:

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another; covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.

English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights was a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king. It was written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689. • Big Ideas: • Limited Government • Rights • Due Process • Rule of Law English Bill of Rights Magna Carta Mayflower Compact

Cato’s Letters Cato’s Letters were made up of a collection of newspaper articles published to convince people to support the freedom of expression and to fight against the heavy handed rule of the British government. They were written by two anonymous English journalists in the 1720’s. • Big Ideas: • Rights • Rule of Law English Bill of Rights Cato’s Letters Magna Carta Mayflower Compact

Common Sense Common Sense was a pamphlet written to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England. It was written by a colonial journalist and circulated in 1776. • Big Ideas: • Self Government • Rights Common Sense English Bill of Rights Cato’s Letters Magna Carta Mayflower Compact

Excerpt from Common Sense • Why was this so influential in the colonies? • What points does he make?

What’s the big idea? • Rule of Law • All people must follow the laws, and the laws should be enforced fairly. • Self Government • People can make decisions on how their government should work. • Due Process • People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and need to treat all people in the same way. • Limited Government • A government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement. • Rights • A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions.

From Big Ideas to the Constitution The movers and shakers in the colonial period spent a lot of time thinking about these big ideas, and how to put them into practice. Give it a try yourself by matching each aspect of the U.S. Constitution to the big ideas that you just learned about. Handout

From Big Ideas to the Constitution A “This Constitution and the laws of the United States ... shall be the supreme law of the land.” All government officials “shall be bound by an oath to support this constitution.” U.S. Constitution, Article VI Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly A Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way. Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do

From Big Ideas to the Constitution B • The first ten amendments in the Bill of Rights guarantees certain rights and freedoms that include: • Freedom of speech, the press, and religion • Right to petition the government and to bear arms • Prohibition of excessive bail or fines, or cruel and unusual punishments for crimes Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way. Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do B

From Big Ideas to the Constitution C The U.S. Constitution created three branches of government. Each branch is given the power to check, or limit the power of the other two. The system of checks and balances keeps any one branch from getting too powerful. Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way. Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do C

From Big Ideas to the Constitution D “ No person shall...be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” U.S. Constitution, 5th Amendment Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way. D Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do

From Big Ideas to the Constitution E “WE THE PEOPLE of the United States...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Preamble to the Constitution, 1787 Self– Government: popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government Rule of Law: the idea that all people must follow the laws, and that the laws are enforced fairly E Due Process: People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing the laws and to treat all people in the same way. Rights: A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions Limited Government: the power of government is limited by the Constitution, and each branch is limited in what it can do

Bellwork Quiz on a ½ sheet of paper: Name the terms for the following ideas • 1. The idea that people can make decisions on how their government should work. • 2. The idea that there are things people should be free to do without restrictions. • 3. The idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws that should treat all people the same way. • 4. The idea that all people must follow the laws. • 5. The idea that government should be limited in power by a constitution.

First try: 2nd Continental Congress • States loyal to states first. • From what government are they just becoming independent? • Very wary of a strong, central government. • The Articles of Confederation— • 1 state=1 delegate • Went into effect 1777; not approved until 1781 • WHY? • It took 9 of 13 states to approve any law (or ratification) • Limited power to regulate trade between states. So states could impose tariffs (taxes) on imported goods=strained relationships. • Congress not given power to levy taxes (could only borrow or beg!) • A war to pay for!!

A Summary: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbf23u6g1k8

Final Straw • Shay’s Rebellion • A weak national government might just be less bad than a strong national government! • Back to the drawing board in 1787. • Delegates called to Philadelphia May, 1787

Federalism: • The leaders spent the next several years debating the merit of a strong, national government. • Federalists vs. AntiFederalists • Read either: • Pg. 1 of Federalists & Antifederalists—summarize both positions on your notes • OR • The Federalist Papers

Exit Slip • Which position do you agree with, the Federalists or AntiFederalists? Explain why.

Bellwork • Translate the Preamble to the Constitution. • Put it in your own words.

Review • Federalists vs. • AntiFederalists • Major issues: • Representation • States’ power vs. strong, central gov’t • Personal liberties

Bellwork Review: • BELLWORK QUESTIONS: answer on sheet on front desk • Why didn’t the Articles work? • What is the Great Compromise? • What is the 3/5 Compromise?http://www.history.com/topics/constitution/videos#america-gets-a-constitution

The Preamble—in your own words: We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.

Assignment: • Analyze the Articles of the Constitution • In your notes, summarize each of the 2 Houses of Congress (requirements, responsibilities) • In your notes, summarize how to amend the Constitution (q #6, Article 5).

Anatomy of the Constitution • The principles of the Constitution • What are they? • Follow along and add these principles to your notes • http://www.hippocampus.org/HippoCampus/History%20%26%20Government;jsessionid=72F21C0A8675B272CB5EBEA96759C2EF

The Articles • Follow along in your packet and highlight/make notes of what he covers in: • http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-us-constitution-preamble-articles-and-amendments.html

Assignment • Examples: • http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/constit/1/ • http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/lessons/oct6usg.htm • http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/lessons/checks_and_balances_flow_chart.htm • http://aventalearning.com/content168staging/2008KMSSocStudies8/SemA/lesson10/html/page_19.html

Colonial Influences