Topic:
Foundations of
Government
Essential Question:
What ideas and events laid the
foundation for the American Revolution?
 Important European Ideas
 Magna Carta
 Document signed by the King of England in 1215
 1st limit to his power
 Document signed by the King of
England in 1215
 1st limit to his power
 Guaranteed some basic rights:
 Trial by jury
 King could not tax without
permission from Parliament
 Trial by jury
 King could not tax without permission from
Parliament
 Enlightenment
 Period of great ideas in Europe that influenced
American ideas on government
Francis Bacon
 Enlightenment
 Period of great ideas in
Europe that influenced
American ideas on
government
 English Bill of Rights
 Expanded the ideas of the
Magna Carta
 Further limited the
power of the English
monarchy
 Increased rights of
citizens
 Further limited the power of the English monarchy
 Increased rights of citizens
 Further limited the power of the English monarchy
 Increased rights of citizens
 John Locke
 English thinker
 Humans have 3 natural rights:
 Life
 Liberty
 Property
 Life
 Liberty
 Property
 Social contract
 Agreement between
people and the
government
 If the government fails to
protect the people’s
rights, the people have
the right (or duty) to
change it or overthrow it
 Agreement between people
and the government
 If the government fails to
protect the people’s rights,
the people have the right (or
duty) to change it or
overthrow it
 Baron de Montesquieu
 French thinker
Charles-Louis de Secondat,
Baron de la Brede et de
Montesquieu
 Baron de Montesquieu
 French thinker
 Separation of powers into 3 branches
of government
 French thinker
 Separation of powers
into 3 branches of
government
 Colony
 Definition: a territory
established by a nation to
increase its wealth
 Colony
 Definition: a territory established by a nation to
increase its wealth
 Reasons English citizens moved to North American
colonies:
 Financial
 Religion
 Financial
 Religion
 To start a new life
 Religion
 To start a new life
 Pilgrims
 Sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620
 Pilgrims
 Sailed to America on the
Mayflower in 1620
 Signed the Mayflower Compact
 Agreed to majority rule
 Helped establish the idea of
self-government in the
colonies
 Agreed to majority rule
 Helped establish the idea of self-government in the
colonies
 French and Indian War (1754-1763)
 Britain v. France
 Each side had Native American allies
Joseph Brant
(Thayendanegea),
Mohawk leader—
ally to the British
French negotiating with
Huron allies
 Britain v. France
 Each side had Native American allies
 Fighting for control of North America
 Each side had Native American allies
 Fighting for control of North America
 Each side had Native American allies
 Fighting for control of North America
Tanacharison,
the “Half King”
Battle of
Jumonville Glen
 Each side had Native American allies
 Fighting for control of North America
Fort
Necessity
Surrendered to the French:
July 4, 1754
Gen.
Edward
Braddock
Battle of the
Monongahela
Braddock’s
death
 Each side had Native American allies
 Fighting for control of North America
 Part of a worldwide war between European nations
called the Seven Years’ War
 Fighting for control of North America
 Part of a worldwide war between European
nations called the Seven Years’ War
 British victory
 Gained control over all territory east of
the Mississippi River
 British victory
 Gained control over all territory east of the
Mississippi River
 Very expensive war
 Leads to the American Revolution