Babylonians develop system of government-write Hammurabi s code
The Bible: Hebrews are freed from slavery by Cyrus the Great Hebrew prophets developed the idea of all people being equal, created in the image of God. The idea caring for the weaker members of society. Wrote Torah, discussing issues of human worth and equality
The ancient Greeks and Romans were the first civilizations in history to create governments based on Democracy DEMOS = PEOPLE KRATIA = RULE Athens created a direct democracy in 508 B.C. Rome later developed an indirect democratic system.
Romans write down constitutional principles on Twelve Tablets Catholic Church redefines power and authority
The Magna Carta British Document King John forced to recognize his power was limited by the Barons First step toward limited government
King John John ruled England from 1199 to 1216. He faced the following problems: 1. He quarrelled with the Pope about how to run the Church. 2. John went to war twice against the French king. He lost almost all the land that his father had gained in France! 3. John raised taxes in England to pay for the wars. This upset his BARONS! He ordered them to pay far more tax than earlier kings had done! How did Barons strike back? In 1214 many barons rebelled against John. In 1215 the barons forced John to grant a charter, which was the first time anyone had expected an English king to obey a set of rules.
The Magna Carta I, King John, accept that I have to govern according to the law. So I agree: 1. Not to imprison nobles without trial 2. That trials must be in courts; not held in secret by me 3. To have fair taxation for the nobles 4. To let freemen travel wherever they like 5. Not to interfere in Church matters 6. Not to seize crops without paying for them. and lot more things too!!
It was his lifelong conviction that what was needed to regenerate Europe was sound learning applied frankly and fearlessly to the administration of public affairs in Church and State. Wrote In Praise of Folly Believed strongly in human rights, equality, and human freedom "laid the egg that Luther hatched Contemporary of Martin Luther and Machiavelli
Luther leads reformation of Catholic Church, nailed 95 Theses to door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany His letter to the Pope entitled Freedom of a Christian, which is what finally got him excommunicated (thrown out of the Church), stated that "there is no basic difference in status and dignity... between laymen and priests, princes and bishops, religious and secular. Before God all are equal.
Theologian, pastor and political reformer during Protestant Reformation Calvin takes reformation further Founded Geneva, Switzerland, to be a self-governing theocracy Believed in public education, support for the poor, predestination, free will, individual responsibility and equality Calvinists in France called Huguenots, in Scotland called Presbyterians, in England and the American colonies called Puritans
The Mayflower Compact The Mayflower Compact was the first self-governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by English Calvinist colonists (Puritans), later known to history as the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower. They were a separatist group seeking freedom of religion to practice Christianity according to their own determination and not the will of the English Church. It was signed on November 11, 1620 by 41 of the ship's one hundred and two passengers,in what is now Provincetown Harbor near Cape Cod
The Petition of Right Meanwhile, back in ENGLAND, English Revolution is starting. The Petition of Right sets out specific liberties that the king is prohibited from infringing. It was passed by Parliament in May 1628, in response to abuses by the King, and agreed to by Charles I 1. taxes can be levied only by Parliament 2. martial law can t be imposed in time of peace 3. prisoners may challenge their imprisonment through the writ of habeas corpus. 4. ban on the housing of troops is reflected in the Third Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The Bill of Rights Passed by Parliament in December 1689, signed by William and Mary, protected English Citizens, it defined certain rights to which subjects and permanent residents of a constitutional monarchy were thought to be entitled in the late 17th century. 1. subjects' right to petition the monarch 2. the right to bear arms 3. restates requirements of the Crown to seek the consent of the people, as represented in parliament
Gave colonists a shared national religious experience Preachers felt that people needed to be concerned with inner emotions as opposed to outward religious behavior People in New England could read and interrupt the Bible on their own
Puritan Minister who used raw emotional sermons to reach all classes of colonists Preached that good works and godly lives would bring you salvation
Birth of deep religious convictions in the colonies New churches built to accommodate new members Colleges founded to train new ministers
Encouraged ideas of equality and right to challenge authority Birth of charity and charitable organizations Spread of ideas of self-government
A movement in the 1700 s that rejected traditional ways of life and looked for a more rational and scientific way to explain the world we live in It was an emphasis on the sciences and reason to explain things
Generally we are good and our environment influences us The use of science and reason could answer life s mysteries Science and reason could also answer man s questions concerning government and himself
Great surge of literacy in the colonies Newspapers and book publications increase Schools are synonymous with new towns and villages Deism, God is the great clock maker
People are born with natural rights Government has an obligation to protect those natural rights Kings have no right to govern people, people empower government
John Locke 1632-1704 Life, Liberty and Property The right to alter or abolish Baron de Montesquieu 1712-1778 separation of powers Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1689-1755 Social contract Consent of the governed Voltaire 1694-1778 freedom
Born in Boston, Massachusetts Educated at Harvard Enters politics after he fails in his business venture Serves in both the 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses A leading political organizer against the British in the colonies He is a leader in the Boston Tea Party and of the Sons of Liberty
At the Boston Massacre it is believed that he played a major hand in inciting the Sons of Liberty to antagonize British troops He will sign the Declaration of Independence
Born in Boston, Massachusetts leaves school to help father in his business as a soapmaker Printer in Philadelphia and later an editor for the Pennsylvania Gazette
Writes Poor Richard s Almanac which becomes popular for it s American proverbs Scientist, writer, businessmen, statesman, publisher, represented American Enlightenment and inventor Responsible for helping get the French to join the colonies against the British
A Virginia plantation owner He will write many political pamphlets that criticize British policies in the colonies Served in the Virginia House of Burgesses several terms
He will attend both Continental Congresses He will write the Declaration of Independence in 1776 He is the third President
Educated at Harvard Delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress On the Declaration writing committee with Thomas Jefferson Not a popular leader like his second cousin, Samuel Adams. Instead, his influence emerged through his work as a constitutional lawyer and his intense analysis of historical examples The second President of the United States (1797 1801)
We can call George Washington the Poster Child of the Revolution. Commander in Chief of the Continental Army 1 st President of the United States Presided over Committee to write Constitution
English Quaker who arrives in the colonies in 1775 Writes Common Sense in 1776, a political pamphlet that criticizes the British monarch, supports colonial rebellion and justifies starting a new government
Common Sense will push colonies to rebel Writes American Crisis, which inspires colonial soldiers to continue fighting against the British
Having been instrumental in the drafting of the Constitution, he is called Father of the Constitution. Wrote the Bill of Rights 4 th President