Roots of American Government

Big Idea #1

• America got a lot of their ideas about government from the British.

The Magna Carta

A document written in 1215 in England

The king needed money to finance a war, so he made a deal with the nobles (rich guys)

Gave rights to the English people

Took power away from the king

Rights guaranteed by the Magna Carta

Property could not be seized by the government.

Taxes had to be approved by a council of important men.

People could not be put on trial without witnesses against them.

The right to a trial by a jury.

Parliament

Parliament - elected representatives that make laws in England

Parliament was made up of two houses. (parts) – The House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The House of Lords

The House of Commons

English Bill of Rights

Laws written to protect the English people

King or queen could not cancel laws or impose taxes unless Parliament agreed

Excessive fines and cruel punishments were forbidden

People had the right to complain about the king or queen without being arrested.

John Peter Zenger and freedom of the press

John Peter Zenger was put on trial for criticizing the governor of New York in a an article in a newspaper.

Criticizing government officials in the press was illegal at the time.

Zenger was found not guilty.

Zenger’s trial was the first step in freedom of the press in America.