Download WTP: Unit One - TJ

WTP: Unit One
What are the
philosophical and
historical foundations
of the American
Political System?
Lesson One:What did the founders
think about constitutional government?
Colonial
Rural
America
Spotting
relationship between colonists
and Natives
A few influential families dominated
most towns or regions
Lesson One:What did the founders
think about constitutional government?
Influences
on the Founders:
Aristotle
Hobbes
Cicero
Locke
Montesquie
Blackstone
Also experience
government
Lax
as colonies affected ideas on
British control left a lot of self governing.
Lesson One:What did the founders
think about constitutional government?
Possible
Forms of government:
Monarchy
Tyranny
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
Polity
Democracy
Did
not trust the power in one’s or the
masses hands.
Lesson One:What did the founders
think about constitutional government?
Solution:
Republican form
Res publica
“public
of government
thing”
Needed the massess to be filtered
Protect them from themselves
Protect rights of the minority
Protect the interests of both the majority
minority in order to sustain government.
and
Lesson One:What did the founders
think about constitutional government?
Whats
a constitution?
Unwritten
Constitution
Great Britain
Combination of
written laws and precedents that
create a “constitutional body”
Creates
limited government & rule of law
Government
limited by the provisions of the
constitution and is not above the law but rather
restrained/constrained by it.
Lesson Two:What ideas about civic life
informed the founding generation?
Old
School influences (from antiquity)
Classical
republicanism
Common
good
altruism
Civic
virtue
State,
city before the individual citizen
Small,
uniform communities
Moral
Education
Homogenous
Common
and exclusive
values and religious beliefs
Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life
informed the founding generation?
Philosophy & Government
Locke and Hobbes
Natural rights philosophy
State of nature
Law of nature
-Inalienable rights
--LLP
Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life
informed the founding generation?
Natural Rights Philosophy
Social Contract Theory
unwritten contract between members
of a society
To preserve rights of the members
Government instituted in order to protect
these rights and solidify this contract.
Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life
informed the founding generation?
Natural Rights Philosophy
Key tenets
Individual rights
Inalienable rights for EVERY member(ish)
Popular sovereignty
Right of revolution
Limited Government
Social contract
legitimacy
Lesson 3: What historical developments
influenced modern ideas of individual
rights?
Religion and Human Rights
Judeo-Christian Beliefs
 Public and Private morality
Virtues of community v. virtues of faith and
religion
Dignity and worth of all human beings
Civic virtue a matter of moral faith and obligation
as opposed to duty to society
Church held lots of power because of limited
access to the Bible
Lesson 3: What historical developments
influenced modern ideas of individual
rights?
Individual Right & the Middle Ages
Feudalism
Hierarchical economic and governmental system
based on ownership of resources, principally land.
kights, Lords, Vassals, Fiefs (serfs)
Lesson 4: What were the British
Origins of American Constitutionalism?
How did rights develop in England?
Rights of Englishmen Common law
Generally procedural due process rights
Magna Carta 1215
“Great Charter”
King John & his barons, clergy, and merchants
Rule of law
Basic rights
Included redress of grievances
Government by contract
Lesson 4: What were the British
Origins of American Constitutionalism?
Concepts of the British Constitution
 Petition of Right 1628
 Charles needed $ Parliament said ok if…
 Increased Parliaments role and rights
Quartering soldiers
Some procedural due process rights
 Habeas Corpus Act 1679
 Deliver the body
 No detainment without charges
 English Bill of Rights 1689
 Result of Glorious Revolution
 Rule of law
 Representive government