FLASHBACK
QUESTION #1
1.Each of the following is a way to classify government EXCEPT
A.
Who can participate
B.
How much money the government has
C.
Geographic Distribution of Power
D.
Relationship between legislative and executive branches
2. In a democracy, sovereignty lies with __________ and the government is responsible to
_________.
A.
President, people
B.
Dictator, no one
C.
People, the will of the people
D.
Congress, voters
3. A ___________ government is one in which the powers of the government are divided
between a central government and several local governments.
A.
Federal
B.
Unitary
C.
Confederate
D.
Presidential
FLASHBACK
QUESTION #2
1.Each of the following is a way to classify government
EXCEPT
A. Who can participate
B. How much money the government has
C. Geographic Distribution of Power
D. Relationship between legislative and executive branches
FLASHBACK
QUESTION #2
2. In a democracy, sovereignty lies with __________ and the
government is responsible to _________.
A. President, people
B. Dictator, no one
C. People, the will of the people
D. Congress, voters
FLASHBACK
QUESTION #3
3. A ___________ government is one in which the powers of
the government are divided between a central government
and several local governments.
A. Federal
B. Unitary
C. Confederate
D. Presidential
ORIGINS OF AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT
08/27
MAJOR POLITICAL THEORIES
 Using your
information identify
and describe the 4
competing theories
of government.
 You should compare
and contrast each
theory using a Venn
Diagram
 Which Theory did the
United States base
its government off
of?
Social Contract
Theory
Divine
Right
Theory
Force
Theory
Evolutionary
Theory
THE FORCE THEORY
state born of force.
One person or small group claimed control over an area,
forced all within it to follow that person’s or group’s rule.
When rule was established, all basic elements of the state
were present.
•
•
•
•
Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government
THE EVOLUTIONARY
THEORY
state developed naturally out of the early family.
The primitive family, of which one person was the head
(government), was the first stage in political development.
Over years, the original family became a network of related
families, a clan; in time, the clan became a tribe.
When the tribe turned to agriculture and gave up nomadic
ways, the state was born.
THE DIVINE RIGHT
THEORY
Widely accepted in much of the Western world from the 15th 18th centuries.
God created the state; God had given those of royal birth the
divine right to rule.
The people were bound to obey their ruler as they would
God.
Opposition to “the divine right of kings” was both treason
and mortal sin.
THE SOCIAL
CONTRACT THEORY
In earliest history (Hobbes), humans lived in unbridled
freedom , “a state of nature,” in which no government existed
and no person had any superior power.
That which people could take by force belonged to them.
Humans overcame this unpleasant condition (Hobbes) by
agreeing with one another to create a state
By contract, people within a given area agreed to give up to
the state as much power as was needed to promote the
safety and well being of all.
THE SOCIAL
CONTRACT THEORY
In the contract, the members of the state created a
government to exercise the powers they had voluntarily
given to the state.
The Social Contract Theory argues that the state arose of out
a voluntary act of free people.
The state exists only to serve the will of the people; the
people are free to give or to withhold that power as they
choose.
• Thomas Hobbes, James Harrington, John Locke,
Jean Jacques Rousseau
AMERICA’S POLITICAL
BEGINNINGS
 Where did the early colonists
get their ideas for government?
 Basic Concepts of Government
from Great Britain:
-Ordered GovernmentOrderly regulation of
relationships/need for
government
-Limited GovernmentGovernment is restricted, people
have basic rights
-Representative Govt.Government representative of the
people
LANDMARK ENGLISH
DOCUMENTS
You will be responsible for researching these 3
landmark English documents that the colonists used to
help shape their idea of government.
1 -Magna Carta (pg 31)
2-Petition of Right (pg 31)
3-English Bill of Rights (pg 31)
 You must identify the following about your specific
document
-Who (wrote/created it)
-What (does it say/do)
-When (was it written)
-Where (was it written)
-Why (was it written/purpose?)

THE ENGLISH
COLONIES
Royal Colonies (8)
Proprietary
Colonies (3)
Subject to direct
control of the Crown
Organized by a
Self Governing-did
proprietor -King gave not need Crown’s
proprietor land
approval
Royal GovernorVery Strict
Bicameral
Legislature
Charter Colonies
(2)
Appointed Governor
Elected Governor
Unicameral and
Bicameral
Legislature
Bicameral
Legislature
COLONIAL CASE
STUDIES
•In groups of 4, you will receive one of three case studies.
•Read your prompt and write your response based upon
which type of colony you are.
•Remember you must defend your decision by making
reference to the
-Principles of English Government
-Landmark English Documents
-The type of colony you live in
EXIT CARD
Describe the 3 concepts of government the colonists
borrowed from Great Britain. Next, explain which landmark
English document you feel had the greatest impact on
colonial government? Explain.