Download Origins of U.S. Democracy

Soc. 8th Grade: Origins of the American Revolution and Democracy in
the United States!
As a means of pulling ideas together, let us quickly examine events and ideas in
history that can be viewed as contributing ideas to the est. of democracy in America.
Note…this summary is not complete but is intended as a means for permitting
students to make connections between past and present events in history.
Why study history, why study Ancient History, why study the Medieval Period and
later the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment? Here’s Why?
Ancient Babylon/Hammurabi - _ca. 1792 BC, Hammurabi becomes emperor, accumulates
existing laws and codifies them onto tablets and places them throughout the empire. The laws apply
to everyone and are universally enforced.
Classical Greece/Athens – After the fall of several Tyrants, the Athenian city-state develops a
form of democracy that incorporates the voting of citizens in shaping foreign and domestic policies.
Citizens vote on waging war and other matters affecting the health of the city-state.
Socrates – One of the greatest, original thinkers, philosophers of Classical Greece, he taught
through questioning one’s own knowledge and assumptions. He questioned the policies of Athens,
was an outspoken opponent against the Peloponnesian War and was put on trial and executed for his
actions that were believed to be against the best interests of Athens. His death marks a point in
history where Athens will {after defeat} become a leader in learning and philosophy. Its
accomplishments will be incorporated into and expanded upon by the Roman Empire
Plato – student of Socrates, examined the workings of government and wrote “The Republic”,
stating that he believed a republic to be the most ideal means by which to govern people because a
pure democracy has flaws in it making it an unworkable system of government.
The Roman Republic- ca. 500BC and lasting almost 500 years, the Romans borrowed from the
Etruscans and Greeks and developed a system of government built on written laws and using
representatives who would serve on behalf of the people. Many legal terms used today are still
written in Latin and the Roman Republic would in time develop a bi-cameral government as is our
own. The Roman Republic greatly feared 1 person becoming too powerful or tyrannical and used coconsuls to rule over the people with assistance from the Senate.
Concepts attributed to Rome:
Veto – to reject a proposed law
Senate – a representative law making body in Rome consisting of wealthy patricians
Plebesite – a vote put to the public, simple majority wins, and is still used today name for class of
people known as Plebes who were supporters of the commoners
Roman Law – was universally enforced throughout the empire. Included such ideas as a person is
innocent until proven guilty, the accused had a right to defend themselves before a judge, the judge
should be impartial. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire, the Roman language and legal system
remained and became the basis for many of the languages and legal systems adopted throughout
Europe
Magna Carta – AD 1215, King John of England agrees to sign a “Great Charter” because he is
desperate for funds and soldiers necessary to wage wars to help win back lost territories. The nobles
resist in granting his wishes but agree to do so…if the king will sign the “Magna Carta”. Some of
the basic ideas of it include:
Ideas contained within the Magna Carta:
A. Nobles were granted permission to meet to discuss matters of state {not often}
B. The Nobility could not be forced to give over funds nor men by force, the monarchs had to ask!
C. Nobles had to be consulted before laws were passed
Note…The Nobles of England have not gained the right of approval but the monarchs still need to at
least inform them of what is going on. It is frequently stated that the Magna Carta is the beginning
of Democracy in England, this may be an exaggeration. It does however give the Nobles greater
control over the purse strings of the Monarchy and in time greater power.
English Common Law – Based on ancient tribal customs in England and Roman Laws, in time
the laws would become the body of accepted legal practices known in England as Common Law.
English Common Law in turn became a basis of American Colonial Laws and later laws of the
United States
English Wars – Over the centuries following the signing of the Magna Carta, English Kings would
fight many wars for varied reasons. In each case they would now have to approach the Nobles of
England for the necessary monies to fight the wars. Over time, the Nobles would recognize that they
could use this power over the purse strings to ask for and get more rights from the monarchs of
England. By the 1500s the first “Model Parliament” is created and from this time on Parliament
becomes a recognized part of English government.
A. Meetings of Nobles evolved into a recognized Parliament
B. Parliament got the powers to levy all taxes
C. Parliament got the power to wage war
D. Parliament passed all acts of legislation
The Enlightened Thinkers of England: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke {See Handout}
Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 – Name given to Parliament’s peaceful overthrowing of
King James II. It did so because he refused to work with Parliament and believed in Divine Rights of
Kings. Parliament chose William III of Orange and Mary to co-reign. To do so, William and Mary
had to agree to grant Parliament its wishes and to sign the English Bill of Rights. It is at this point
where English Monarchs are no longer in lone control of affairs of state.
English Bill of Rights – signed in 1689 by William and Mary, it grants the wealthy of
England/Parliament members certain recognizable rights:
A. Monarchs could not levy taxes without the consent of Parliament
B. Monarchs could not pass laws without consent of Parliament
C. Monarchs could not raise standing armies in times of peace
D. Parliament members were guaranteed freedom of speech in Parliament,
the right to petition the crown to address grievances, Nobles were guaranteed
protection from unlawful searches, seizures of property and false imprisonment.
In time, the legal practices and expectations of the people of England will spread
with the people when they begin to inhabit the 13 American Colonies.
In the American Colonies you also have steps towards self-government!
Mass.
Connecticut Pennsylvania Rhode
Island
Mayflower
Compact:
Signed by
several orig.
pilgrim
settlers, was
an agreement
to form own
laws, etc. in
new colony
Fundamental
Orders:
Earliest
known
constitution in
the English
Colonies.
Permitted the
colonists of
Conn. To
shape own
means of selfgov’t and to
pass own laws
etc.
Great Council
– used by
Puritans of
Mass. Bay
Colony to
help run the
colony
independent.
of English
Rule
William Penn
used “Frame of
Gov’t” as a
guide to govern
the colony of
Pennsylvania
It established a
means by which
to grant selfgovernment in
Penn.
independent of
English Rule
Frame of Gov’t
Permitted a rep.
assembly that
could veto laws
proposed by a
council of
advisors selected
by Penn.
Roger
Williams
believed in
Rhode Island
was a colony
formed
around the
principles
granting
people
religious
freedoms and
freedom from
persecution
for one’s
beliefs
Roger
Williams
believed there
should exist a
separation of
church and
state when
forming laws
for governing
Virginia
New York
1619 the
Virginia
House of
Burgesses is
created
The Iroquois
Confederation
Worlds 1st
known
Confederacy
of Nations…
Member
nations had…
Burgess is
English for
Burger which
is German for
prominent
town citizen
Was an elected
assembly of
wealthy
Virginians
who helped
create laws of
the colony
Elected
leaders:
Each tribe or
nation had
equal say in
decisions
Elected
members or
Sachems to
serve in Great
councils
Ben Franklin
and other
founding
fathers visited
and studied
the Iroquois
Nation and
were
impressed by
some of the
means by
which the
confederacy
operated.
The French Enlightened Thinkers: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau of the 1700s
Influenced by English thinkers, they expanded on previously discussed matters and produced works dealing
with such subjects as: The “Spirit of Laws”, the need for free speech and press and freedom of religion, the
need to divide the powers of the government into branches to limit the powers of a monarch or executive
branch.
Classical Education of our Founding Fathers: Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Madison,
Adams, Hamilton, and most other wealthy statesman of the Revolutionary War Era would have been
educated in much if not all of the items mentioned above!
So the question is…How and why did the American Revolution and creation
of our current government take place? By what process did our nation’s
government come into existence?
In the space below, explain the process that our Founding Fathers
incorporated when it came time to form our unique governmental system.
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