Our Political Beginnings

Declaration on Independence: 1776

Constitution: 1787

Basic Concepts of Government

-English settlers brought knowledge of a political system-established laws, customs,
practices, and institutions. (Rule of law: Africa, Asia, Romans, Babylonia)
-Ordered Government: orderly regulation of their relationships
-Limited Government: restricted powers, individuals have certain rights government
cannot take away
-Representative Government: people’s voice, “government of, by, and for the people”

Landmark English Documents

-The Magna Carta——the Great Charter: King John force to sign (1215), including rights
as trial by jury and due process of law——protection against the arbitrary taking of life,
liberty, or property. “Power of monarchy was not absolute”
-The Petition of Right: 1628, Parliament refused more tax, Charles I sign, cannot
imprison or punish anyone without the lawful judgment of peers or the law, no martial
rule in peace, can’t require homeowners to shelter the king’s troops without their consent.
“Even a monarch must obey the law of the land”
-English Bill of Rights: 1689, Glorious Revolution, William and Mary of Orange throne,
parliamentary elections are free, right to fair trial, freedom from excessive bail and from
cruel, unusual punishment.

The English Colonies

“13 schools of government”, established over 125 years. First colony: Virginia, first
permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607. Last colony: Georgia, settlement of
Savannah in 1733.
Circumstances——Virginia: commercial venture. Massachusetts: personal and religious
freedom. Georgia: haven for debtors, refuge for victims of England’s harsh laws.
Similarities outweigh differences. All establishments, basis “a charter”, written grant of
authority from the king.
-Royal Colonies: subject to the direct control of the Crown. King named a governor, chief
executive; a council, advisory body. Council became upper house of the colonial
legislature, highest court. Lower house of bicameral legislature, elected by property
owners. Judges appointed by governor. Laws had to be approved by governor and Crown,
stern rule, triggered resentment.
-The Proprietary Colonies: By charter, governed by proprietor, a person to whom the
king granted land. Maryland, Delaware: bicameral; Pennsylvania: unicameral.
-The Charter Colonies: largely self-governing, liberal. Connecticut, Rhode Island.
Governors elected by white male property owners, king’s approval required not often
asked. Laws, governor can’t veto, don’t need king’s approval.
Historians: If Britain allowed all colonies same freedom and self-government, Revolution
might not occur.