Political Influences on
United States History
Magna Carta
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The Magna Carta was
signed by King John
in 1215.
It asserted the right
of British citizens to
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A trial by jury
No imprisonment
without a trial
No taxation except by
approval of Parliament
1215
1492

Christopher Columbus
arrived in the
Americas.
Colombian Exchange

A series of interactions between the
Native Americans and Europeans.
1607

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Jamestown, Virginia
First permanent English
settlement in North America.
English Bill of Rights
1689
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Passed by Parliament in
1689.
English rights reinforced:
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no taxation
right to petition
individual rights
American
Revolutionary Period
1776

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Declaration of
Independence signed.
Start of the
Revolutionary War.
United States
established as an
independent nation.
Representative Government

A system of government
in which power is held by
the people and their will
is carried out by elected
representatives.
Declaration of
Independence

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July 4, 1776
Written by Thomas
Jefferson
American colonies
declare independence
from England
List of grievances against
King George III
Declaration of
Independence

The Declaration states
the two major principles
on which the Constitution
is based:

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Government gets its power
from the consent of the
governed.
All men are created equal
and have unalienable
rights.
Thomas Jefferson
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Main author of the
Declaration of
Independence
3rd President
Unalienable Rights

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
Rights/Privileges according
to the Declaration of
Independence.
These rights cannot be
taken away.
Unalienable Rights are:

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Life
Liberty
Pursuit of happiness
Grievances
=
Complaints
Colonial Grievances

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Taxation without
consent (permission)
No representation
No trial by jury
Quartering troops
Standing armies in
peace time
Revolution

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Armed rebellion
Uprising against the
government or
authority
A period of great
change
Independence

Free from influence or
control of other
nations, sovereign.
American
Revolution


The war of
independence fought
between Britain and
13 of its colonies in
North America
1775-1783
George Washington

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Leader of the
Continental Army
during the Revolution
1st president of the
United States
Lexington and Concord
(1775)

Battles that started
the American
Revolution.
Battle of Saratoga
(1777)

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Colonist victory over
British.
Turning point in
Revolutionary War.
French offer help to
colonists.
Battle of Yorktown (1781)

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Colonists defeated the
British.
The British surrendered.
End of military struggle.
Treaty of Paris (1783)

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Ended the
Revolutionary War.
British recognized
colonists’
independence.
British gave colonists
all the lands
stretching west of the
Mississippi River.
Confederation

An alliance of states
where states have the
majority of the power
and retain their
sovereignty.
Articles of Confederation

First government of
United States from
1781 – 1788.
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State sovereignty
Weak national
government
No standing army
No power to tax
No courts
No executive
U.S. Constitution
and
Bill of Rights
1787

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U.S. Constitution
written at
Constitutional
Convention in
Philadelphia
Ratification of
Constitution and
Federalist Papers in
1788.
Philadelphia
Convention

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
1787
Constitutional convention
resulted in creation of
FEDERAL government
(separate executive,
judicial and legislative
branches)
Convention replaced the
Articles of Confederation
and wrote the U.S.
Constitution
Principles of the
U.S. Constitution


Basic law and
government of the United
States
Based on 7 principles:
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Republicanism
Popular sovereignty
Federalism
Limited government
Separation of power
Checks and balances
Individual rights
Republicanism

The idea that government
is controlled by the people
who hold power and elect
representatives, giving
those representatives
power to make and enforce
laws.
Popular Sovereignty

All political power
rests with the people
who can create, alter,
and abolish
government.
Limited Government

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Limits are placed on
the powers of
government
Everyone, including
all authority figures,
must obey the laws
Checks and Balances

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Each branch of the
government shares its
power and checks the
other two.
Prevents any branch
of government from
becoming too
powerful.
Federalism

Distribution of the
powers of
government between
a central (federal)
government and the
regional (states)
governments.
=1
= 50
Separation of Powers

Form of government
organized in three
branches

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A legislative branch
(Congress)
An executive branch (the
President)
A judicial branch (Supreme
Court)
Legislative Branch

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House of Representatives and Senate
together form the Congress
Enacts legislation (laws)
Can declare war
Can override a veto by the president (2/3
majority)
Legislative Branch

House of Representatives

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2 year terms
435 members (proportional representation)
Initiates all money bills (taxation and
spending)
Initiates impeachment proceedings
Legislative Branch

Senate

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6 year terms
100 members (equal representation)
Advice and Consent on appointments and
treaties
Tries impeached officials
Executive Branch

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President and Vice President
Enforces laws
Appoints heads of official agencies
Executive Branch

President of the United States

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Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces
Serves 4 year terms-no more than 2
Can veto a bill passed by Congress
Negotiate and sign treaties
Vice President

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Takes the President’s place if needed
President of the Senate
Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

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Appointed by the president and confirmed by
the Senate
Nine justices (although this number can
change-it is up to Congress)
Justices serve until death, retirement, or
impeachment
Individual Rights

The rights of the people
protected in the Bill of
Rights including:

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Economic rights related to
property
Political rights related to
freedom of speech and
press
personal rights related to
bearing arms and
maintaining private
residences
Federalist Papers

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
Newspaper articles in
New York state.
Explained reasons
why people should
adopt the new US
constitution.
Authors: Alexander
Hamilton, James
Madison, John Jay.
Ratify

Approve
Amendments

The way of making
changes to the U.S.
Constitution
Bill of Rights

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First ten amendments
to the Constitution
(ratified in 1791)
First Amendment:
Religious and Political Freedom

States that “Congress
shall make no law”
restricting freedom
of:

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Speech
Press
Religion
Assembly
Petition
Second Amendment:
Right to Bear Arms

Guarantees the right
of states to organize
militias, or armies,
and the right of
individuals to bear
arms.
Third Amendment:
Quartering of Troops

Soldiers cannot be
housed in people’s
homes unless it is
approved by law.
Fourth Amendment:
Search and Seizure


Protects citizens from
unreasonable searches
and seizures.
If a judge believes the
search is reasonable, a
search warrant will be
granted.
Fifth Amendment:
Rights of the Accused

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This amendment protects an
accused person from having to
testify against him or herself (selfincrimination).
It bans double jeopardy (tried twice
for the same crime)
It guarantees that no citizen may be
deprived of life, liberty, or property
without due process of law – certain
legal procedures that must be
carried out before a person can be
punished.
Sixth Amendment:
Right to a Speedy, Public Trial

Guarantees a fair and
impartial trial to those
accused of a crime.

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Accused must be told
of the charges.
Accused has a right to
a trial by jury.
Accused has a right to
be represented by a
lawyer.
Seventh Amendment:
Trial by Jury in Civil Cases

Guarantees
individuals the
right to a jury trial
in many noncriminal matters.
Eighth Amendment:
Limits of Fines and Punishment

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Federal courts can not
require an unusually
high bail.
No one can be
punished in an cruel
and unusual way.
Ninth Amendment
Rule of construction of the
Constitution

Rights not listed are left to the people.
Tenth Amendment
States Rights

Anything that the Constitution doesn't say
that Congress can do should be left up to
the states, or to the people.