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Roots of American Democracy

When our nation’s founders met, they drew inspiration from ancient Rome, Greece, and Great Britain. Roots of American Democracy. Roots of American Democracy.

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Roots of American Democracy

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  1. When our nation’s founders met, they drew inspiration from ancient Rome, Greece, and Great Britain. Roots of American Democracy

  2. Roots of American Democracy Many of the rights that American citizens enjoy today can be traced back to the political and legal traditions of England. For centuries before the first English people arrived in America, England was ruled by Monarchs.

  3. Democracy is . . • A system of government in which citizens: • Vote for their leaders • Have specific rights and responsibilities • We get democracy from many sources

  4. The ancient Greeks : • In Athens, citizens voting for their leaders became common • “Civic virtue” became important to many philosophers.

  5. The ancient Romans : • Developed the “rule of law” common to all citizens throughout the empire • Developed advanced forms of representative government, before evolving in to a dictatorship.

  6. The Bible: • Hebrew prophets developed the idea of all people being equal, created in the image of God. • The idea caring for the weaker members of society.

  7. The Magna Carta • British Document • King John forced to recognize his power was limited by the Barons • First step toward limited government • But WHY???

  8. King John and the Magna Carta

  9. Could the rich control the king? Around the picture below, you can read some of the qualities which medieval people expected their king to have! Which three are the most important for a medieval king? A good judge of character Rich – but not greedy! A good soldier Fit and strong God fearing Inspiring! Brave Hardworking Wise Firm – but fair!

  10. King John manages to upset everyone!! The first king to give up some of his power was John. He is famous as Prince John in make believe stories of Robin Hood. In the stories he is a wicked and foolish prince who taxes the people of England unfairly. Some historians say John was just as foolish in real life. Others say he was simply unlucky! John ruled England from 1199 to 1216. He faced the following problems.

  11. Problem Number 1 He quarrelled with the Pope about how to run the Church. From 1208 until 1213, the Pope banned all church services in England and English people feared that they would all go to HELL! Some Church leaders blamed John for the trouble.

  12. Problem Number 2 John went to war twice against the French king. His army was badly beaten both times. He lost almost all the land that his father had gained in France!

  13. Problem Number 3 John raised taxes in England to pay for the wars. This upset his BARONS! He ordered them to pay far more tax than earlier kings had done!

  14. THINK! • For how many years did the ban on church services last? • Why do you think the barons gave John the nicknames “Softsword” and “Lackland”? • Which of the three problems do you think upset the barons the most?

  15. How did the barons strike back? • In 1214 many barons rebelled against John. They believed that he could not rule the country properly and was treating them unfairly. If someone did not do something the whole country could be ruined! • In 1215 the barons forced John to grant a charter, which was the first time anyone had expected an English king to obey a set of rules.

  16. The Magna Carta I, King John, accept that I have to govern according to the law. So I agree: 1. Not to imprison nobles without trial 2. That trials must be in courts; not held in secret by me 3. To have fair taxation for the nobles 4. To let freemen travel wherever they like 5. Not to interfere in Church matters 6. Not to seize crops without paying for them …. and lot more things too!!

  17. Think! • What was so new about Magna Carta for English kings? • At the time, Magna Carta was not designed to help everybody. What kind of people were not helped by the charter? • How did the Magna Carta help lead the way for Democracy?

  18. PARLIAMENT • Developed by King Henry III • Led to the Glorious Revolution • English Bill of Rights

  19. SOURCES OF AMERICAN LAW • COMMON LAW • EQUITY LAW • CONSTITUTIONAL LAW • STATUTORY LAW

  20. THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT • Established in Plymouth. • Stated that government would make “just and equal laws.” • Established the tradition of direct democracy that is still present in New England today.

  21. The End

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