Our English Heritage
Early English Influence

The English brought with them
a history of limited and
representative government.

England was ruled by a
“monarch” for centuries.
Rule of King John
(1199-1216)
Rule of King John
(1199-1216)

The rule of King
John of England met
resistance from his
noble families.
 In 1215, they rebelled
in order to maintain
their authority and
privileges.
The “Magna Carta”
(1215)
“Magna Carta” (Latin
for “Great Charter”).
It was signed by King
John.
 It was a contract that
limited the power of
the monarch by
guaranteeing that no
one is above the law
(even the king or
queen) – today this is
called RULE of
LAW.

The “Magna Carta”
(1215)
This document upheld
the rights of landowners
by:
1. protecting the English
nobles’ rights
2. limiting the power of
the Monarch –leading
to a LIMITED
MONARCHY!
Early English “Parliament”
“Parliament” was a
group of nobles that
advised the King
according to the needs of
their people.
 It had two groups or
“house” making it
bicameral.

Early English “Parliament”
Rule of King James II
(1685-1688)
The “Glorious Revolution”
(1688)

In 1688, Parliament removed
King James II from the throne
and replaced him with William
& Mary (the king’s daughter)
 This peaceful transition in the
monarchy was called the
“Glorious Revolution”.
 Parliament was now stronger
than the monarchy.
King James II
William and Mary
“English Bill of Rights”
(1689)

Parliasment created the
“English Bill of Rights” in
1689.
“English Bill of Rights”
(1689)
The new document guaranteed the following:
1. King could not suspend laws without
Parliament’s approval.
2. King could not create special courts without
Parliament’s approval.
3. King could not impose “force” new taxes without
Parliament’s approval.
4. King could not raise an army without consent of
Parliament.
5. Parliament would now be freely elected (by the
people).
6. All citizens would have the right to fair trial.
7. Bans cruel and unusual punishment.
Limited Government

Documents like the Magna Carta and the
English Bill of Rights created a tradition of
limited government in England – the colonists
would be influenced by these documents and
the idea of limited government later on….
Great Britain Today
1.
GB has a parliamentary government that is run by a
Prime Minister (executive) and Parliament (legislature).
(The Prime Minister is part of the Parliament –the PM
gets his authority from the Parliament)
“Common Law”
“Common Law” is a system of
law based on precedent and
customs.
 Precedent: past rulings that guide
current decisions.
 Today, American property,
contract, and personal injury laws
are based on this English idea of
“common law”.

Bringing English Heritage to
America
The “American Colonies”

When the American colonies
were established in the mid
1600’s, they brought with
them English traditions of
government and law.

A colony is a group of people
in one place who are ruled by a
parent country elsewhere.
Jamestown, Virginia
(1607)
Jamestown, Virginia
(1607)

“Jamestown” is the first
permanent English
settlement in America.

They were issued a
“charter” - a written
document granting land
and authority to set up a
colonial government.
Arrival of the Pilgrims Plymouth, Massachusetts
(1620)
Plymouth, Massachusetts
(1620)
“Mayflower Compact”
(1620)

1620, a new group of
colonists came to settle in
America; the Pilgrims
settled in Plymouth,
Massachusetts
 These colonists drew up the
Mayflower Compact, which
was a written plan for their
new government!!!
“Mayflower Compact”
(1620)

The “Mayflower Compact”
created a tradition of direct
democracy and this is the first
example of SELF
GOVERNMENT in the
colonies.
Early Colonial Governments

By 1733, there were 13
English colonies that
stretched from
Massachusetts to Georgia.

Each colony maintained
its own colonial
government.
Colonial Governments

Each colony had a governor
that was either elected or
appointed by the people and a
legislature
– Only free adult males
participated.

Each colony had a Legislature
that was modeled after
British Parliament .
 The “British” government
remained occupied at
home…and was located very
far away from the colonies.