1 Our Political Beginnings

2 Democracy in Ancient AthensAthenian Democracy First ruled by wealthy landowners, called archons Became the nobility, (Oligarchic Aristocracy) Some landowners became all-powerful dictators (Draco) Citizens eventually wanted some say in government Created the notion of Popular Sovereignty Democracy = “Demos” (people) “Kratos” (power or force) Adult male citizens could elect leaders/generals, vote on laws & war, serve on juries and even decide punishment (ostracize) Narrow definition of “citizenship” Voted in large forums by show of hands or using colored stones Led to the creation of factions & eventual corruption & dictatorships Athens became a Direct-Democracy City-states were small and few could vote – 30,000 at its height

3 Representative Democracy in Ancient RomeRome was too large for a direct democracy Elected people to represent them in government Representative Democracy (Republic) Not all people had equal rights Only adult free men could vote Two classes of citizens – Rich landowners and workers From this two legislative bodies were created (Bicameral) Senate (made up of the wealthy landowning patrician class) Assembly (made up of the lower plebian class) Landowners elected two men to wield executive power Consuls (acted as heads of state and military commanders) Two Consuls were meant to prevent tyranny by sharing power

4 Rome’s Written Laws Laws and rules written into codesCollection of laws concerning one subject Settle disputes among citizens Regulated trade U.S. Constitution is a set of written laws ***Democracy died out in 44 B.C. with the rise of the Roman Empire and would appear only sporadically over the next 1700 years!!

5 Basic Concepts of GovernmentConcepts “borrowed” from Athens & Rome Democracy & Popular Sovereignty Ordered Government (universal structure/hierarchy) Limited Government (Written set of laws) Representative Government (Republicanism) Separate Legislative & Executive Power Bicameral Legislature (Senate/Assembly)

6 English Influence The Magna Carta - 1215The Petition of Right - June 7, 1628 English Bill of Rights – March, 1689

7 The Magna Carta 1199 – John “Lackland” Plantagenet becomes KingForced Nobles into military service & to provide levies Increased taxes on Nobility to pay for war with France Corrupt courts loyal to King not the law 1215 – Nobles rebel & demand King sign a charter List of rights granted to Nobility John refuses, twice. Civil war breaks out. Nobles raise army, force King to sign Neither side abides by charter. John dies in 1216 King Henry III defeats rebellion, Magna Carta forgotten

8 Effects of Magna Carta Created a list of 61 “Rights”These rights only applied to the Nobility No King can raise taxes without consent of people (Nobles) Promised Due Process (rights of accused) Trial by a jury of peers (fellow nobles) No unwarranted seizure of property Limited property rights for noble women Ended the notion of the king having “absolute power” Established a “law of the land” to which even the King was subject

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10 The Petition of Right - 1628 Magna Carta had largely been ignoredThirty Years War begins in 1626 King Charles I wanted to increase taxes for the war Parliament refused unless he signed a new charter Charter further limited the king’s power Prohibited unjust or unwarranted arrest & jailing Writ of Habeas Corpus Prohibited the declaration of martial law in peacetime Prohibited “forced quartering” of soldiers No taxation without representation (Parliament) King’s must obey the law Led to the English Civil War, & execution of Charles I

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12 The English Bill of RightsThe Glorious Revolution Overthrow of King James II (1688) – Catholic Monarch William & Mary placed on the English throne (Protestant) But there was a catch….. Limited Monarchy No Royal interference with the law No standing royal army Right to a fair trial Freedom from excessive bail and punishment Right to petition & not be punished Right to bear arms for defense (class restrictions) Removed executive & legislative power from king

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14 Influence of the EnlightenmentThomas Hobbes’ – From his book Leviathan People naturally selfish, cruel, malevolent Strong government needed to “control” people Absolute monarchy was necessary Curb people’s natural urges of greed and violence Developed idea of the Social Contract People give up freedoms to get security & protection Protection from each other, NOT from the government Government provided order in exchange for obedience

15 Influence of the EnlightenmentJohn Locke’s – From his Treatises on Government Absolute monarchy not necessary to maintain order All people are born with natural rights Life, liberty, property Government’s role is to protect those rights If it fails, people can replace it with a new one Idea of the Social Contract Challenged the notion of divine right Advocated religious tolerance

16 “. . . constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it it is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.” -Baron de Montesquieu

17 The Philosophes Voltaire Jean Jacques Rousseau Denis DiderotAdvocated religious tolerance & freedom of speech Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract based on popular sovereignty Rule based on the general will - democracy “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” Denis Diderot Wrote the Encyclopédie Criticized the Catholic Church & absolute monarchy Empower people through knowledge Spread Enlightenment ideas

18 The Thirteen American coloniesEarly Colonial Government

19 From Jamestown to Plymouth: The start of self-governmentJamestown, Virginia (1607) First permanent English colony chartered by King James I Settled by the Virginia Company of London (The London Company) Appointed Governor to make decisions for the colony (autocracy) Established as a trading venue – hoped to find gold and silver Slowly shifted from autocracy to representative democracy Largely due to logistical difficulties of governing from London (distance) Colonies were allowed greater political freedom for practical reasons Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620) Settled by the Virginia Company of Plymouth (The Plymouth Company) Established as a haven for seekers of religious freedom (The Puritans) Set sail on the Mayflower Began as direct democracy (The Mayflower Compact) Agreed to join together for the good of the colony, obey laws & leaders Males could vote on colonial issues

20 “…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.”

21 Transition to Representative GovernmentColonial Governor often ruled harshly Virginia Company needed to attract more colonists Felt limited self-government would be ‘agreeable’ Created popularly elected legislative body in 1619 First elected legislative assembly in North America Virginia General Assembly (Bicameral Legislature) The House of Burgesses (Lower House) Burgess – elected official representing a borough (district) Popularly elected by free adult male colonists The Virginia Governor’s Council (Upper House) Appointed by Virginia Company – advisors to the Governor Helped to make colonial laws & levy taxes Laws still subject to the Governor’s veto Would take an active role in ‘revolutionary politics’

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23 Growing Colonial UnityNew England Confederation – 1643 Massachusetts, Connecticut, Plymouth, New Haven Cooperated for defense & trade – united against a common enemy Anglo-Dutch War of 1652 King Phillip’s (Metacomet) War of 1675 Conflicts within the group arose when threat subsided due to competition Dissolved in 1684 Albany Plan of Union – 1754 (Albany Congress) Called by seven of the thirteen colonies – The Albany Congress Resolve trade and defense issues (French & Indian War) – ‘common enemy’ Benjamin Franklin’s Plan Annual congress of representatives – the “Grand Council” President-General to be appointed by the King Raise military/navy, war/peace, regulate trade, tax, duties

24 The Coming of Independence

25 North America in 1755

26 Britain’s Colonial Policies: BeforeColonies = British Wealth Source of raw materials for British manufacturing centers Provided markets for finished British goods Trade handled by companies, regulated by government The British Board of Trade & the East India Company Parliament had a “hands-off” policy until 1763 Colonies were largely self-governing Elected local legislatures, under the eye of a Royal Governor Colonial legislatures created laws, courts, and taxes Legislatures paid wages of local officials, not the crown Governed from London in theory only Colonies formed a sort of “Confederation” Strong regional governments and weak central government Central government was the Crown & the British Parliament

27 The French & Indian War (1754-1763)Also called the Seven Years War War between Britain & France/Indian Allies War began in Americas but spilled to “global” war Britain angered over French claims to Ohio territory The War Itself (insert old-timey battle images) Treaty of Paris/Hubertusburg signed in 1763 ends war Britain gains most of N. American territory The war nearly bankrupts Britain Funds need to be raised to pay massive debt Britain looks to its colonies to “share the burden” These decisions will forever change the course of history

28 “You filthy colonials should be grateful to be part of our Empire!”Britain’s Colonial Policies: After 1760 – George III becomes king Britain begins to deal more harshly with colonies Needed money – accomplished in two ways: Trade was restricted Mercantilism strictly enforced New taxes imposed The Revenue Act of 1764 The Sugar Act The Stamp Act of 1765 Colonials resented direct taxation King & Parliament refused to relent Colonies must pay “fair share” Lucky to be part of the Empire “You filthy colonials should be grateful to be part of our Empire!”

29 The Stamp Act Congress 1765 – Parliament passes the Stamp ActTax on all legal documents, agreements, newspapers “taxation without representation” October, 1765 – Nine colonies gather to address new tax Declaration of Rights & Grievances March, 1766 – Stamp Act repealed March, 1766 – Declaratory Act enacted States the colonies are completely subordinate to Britain Tensions continued to mount New laws passed to tie colonies closer to Britain The Townshend Acts of 1767 (includes tax on tea) Colonists resisted and even rioted, especially in Boston Britain sends troops to Massachusetts

30 The Boston Massacre March 5, 1770Colonials protest Townshend Acts in Boston Named for Charles Townshend, who proposed them Series of acts designed to increase British revenue French & Indian War caused deep debt for Britain Stamp Act repealed, needed new source of revenue Included a tax on imports – Revenue Acts of 1767 The Tea Act Attempted to remove “Power of the Purse” from colonies British troops arrive in Boston to enforce the acts Protesters attacked British troops at the Customs House Troops opened fire – killing 5, injuring 11 Organized resistance to British rule begins in earnest Committees of Correspondence – 1773 (Massachusetts)

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32 The Boston Tea Party – 1773 Protest of the Tea Act passed by Parliament in 1773 Increased monopoly of British East India Company Attempted to limit the smuggling of Dutch Tea Attempted to legitimize the British tax on tea Protesters refused to offload British Tea Tax was to be paid upon offloading of goods Demanded it be returned to Britain Mass. Governor refused to send the tea back to Britain December 16, 1773 Patriots “disguised” as Natives boarded the ship and destroyed the Tea by throwing it in the Boston Harbor Nearly a billion dollars worth of British tea!

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34 Britain Responds April, 1774 – The Coercive/“Intolerable” ActsBoston Port Act British ships blockade the port of Boston Thousands put out of work Massachusetts Government Act Massachusetts officials replaced with Royal appointees Strips Massachusetts of self-government Administration of Justice Act No British official could be tried in colonial courts Colonials React: September, 1774 – First Continental Congress Meeting of Colonial delegates to respond to British policies April, 1775 – Battles of Lexington & Concord The midnight ride of….Samuel Prescott?

35 Three Types of ColoniesRoyal Colonies Virginia was first…again (1624) New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York New Jersey, North & South Carolina, Georgia Proprietary Colonies Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware Charter Colonies Massachusetts….until it angered the king Connecticut & Rhode Island New England was at first (Plymouth Company)

36 The Royal Colonies Controlled directly by the crownKing appointed a governor & council Council served as advisors Later became the “upper house” Developed into a bicameral legislature Lower house elected by landowning whites July, 1619 – the House of Burgesses (boroughs) Laws passed by legislature subject to approval Governor & legislature - Power of the Purse

37 The Proprietary ColoniesEstablished by a proprietor, a merchant Granted land by the king In exchange for percentage of “profit” Given authority to govern (Lord Proprietors) 1632 – Maryland to Lord Baltimore 1681 – Pennsylvania to William Penn 1682 – Delaware to William Penn New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas & Georgia also all began as proprietary Developed legislatures Pennsylvania was unicameral Frame of Government

38 The Charter Colonies Most democratic of the coloniesConnecticut & Rhode Island Massachusetts Bay Colony Founded by religious dissidents from other colonies Charter allowed for limited self-government Could not contradict English Common Law Blended into State constitutions after Revolution Governors elected by landowning white males Legislature made laws & appointed judges

39 QUESTION?? If England had allowed the freedoms of Connecticut and Rhode Island in all of the colonies, would the Revolution have happened?

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