Foundations of
English Colonial
Government
History and
Philosophy
Magna Carta - 1215
• Latin for “Great Charter”
• English barons forced
King John to sign in 1215
• Guaranteed rights for
nobles such as trial by jury
and no excessive fines
• Established principles of
limited monarchy and “law
of the land”
• Rights later extended to all
English citizens
House of Burgesses - 1619
• Established by Virginia Company
• Made up of governor, governor’s council, and
representatives elected by male landowners
• First representative government in colonies
Mayflower Compact - 1620
• Signed by 41 white
males on board the
Mayflower
• Agreed to create a
“civil body politick”
to make laws
• Established idea of
local citizens
governing themselves
in the colonies
Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut - 1639
• Thomas Hooker rejected
joining of church and
state in MA
• Connecticut established
separation of church and
state
• Non-church members
allowed to vote
• First constitution in the
colonies
English Bill of Rights - 1689
• King James II forced out for promoting Catholic faith in
England
• Signed by new king and queen William and Mary
• Gave more power to Parliament and the people and
weakened monarchy
American colonies
claimed these rights
for themselves as
well!
Enlightenment Thinkers
•
•
•
•
John Locke (1632-1704)
Influential philosopher
Believed in natural rights
of life, liberty, and
property (sound familiar?)
Governments created by
people to protect their
rights
People could revolt against
unfair governments
Charles de Montesquieu
(1689-1755)
• French nobleman
•
• Supported dividing
power into three
•
branches
• Influenced framers of
Constitution
William Blackstone
(1723-1780)
British lawyer and legal
scholar
Classic Commentaries
on English Law
influenced Constitution
and U.S. law