self govtnotes

8th Grade Social Studies

Unit: 1 Lesson: 3

© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10

PowerPoint Note Set (pp. 1 of 4)

The Development of Self-Government in the Thirteen American Colonies

An Abuse of Power

1. At the beginning of the 13th Century, King _________________ ruled over England.

2. As England’s monarch, or _______________________, John used unfair practices to control the people such as:

– Unfair _______________________________

– Rules that limited ____________________________ rights

– Dictatorial style leadership Question: What is another name for a king? Why might a king believe he can do anything he pleases? Establishing the Foundation for Self-Government

1. King John’s actions angered the people of England, especially the English ____________________.

2. Using their political and economic power, the nobles forced King John to sign a

________________ protecting the fundamental rights of the people.

3. Signed on June 15, ____________________ this charter became known as the ______________________, or the “Great Charter”

The Magna Carta

1. The charter limited the king’s power and protected specific ____________________ rights of the people. Rights like:

» Due process of _____________________

» __________________________ protection

» Proper _____________________________


Unit: 1 Lesson: 3

© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10


2. Although many of the rights protected under the __________________________ only served a small portion of the population—the wealthy nobles—it served as a foundation for future protection of rights for all people.

The Importance of the Magna Carta

1. First ______________________ Western document acknowledging the protection of individual rights.

2. English ____________ and structures served as an example for future English and

______________________________ documents.

Questions:

1. What is important about the fact that the Magna Carta is the first WRITTEN governmental document in English history?

2. If the Magna Carta only protected the wealthy nobles already in power, why is the document considered important to all English people?

English Bill of Rights 1. In 1689, England’s Parliament furthered the protection of ____________________ rights by

forcing the King of England to sign into effect the English Bill of Rights. 2. The ____________________________________ served as an example for colonial bills of

rights, as well as the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which became known as the Bill of Rights.

Question: Do you feel it is important to have a list of specifically protected individual rights? Why or why not?


Unit: 1 Lesson: 3

© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10


American Colonial Rights

1. The English men and women who traveled to the New World considered themselves to be

_______________________ citizens. 2. As citizens of England, they expected to maintain their English ____________________ while

in the American colonies.

3. To ensure they maintained their rights, especially in vastly isolated communities, they

established _________________________ governments that would support self-government and the protection of individual rights.

4. Protestantism called for ________________________ churches which used self-government.

This was a contrast to what citizens of England were used to under Catholicism which relies on _________________________ hierarchy.

5. Three of these colonial governments were:

Virginia House of Burgesses Mayflower Compact Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Virginia House of Burgesses

1. Established in __________________, the Virginia House of Burgesses served as the first colonial assembly in the Thirteen Colonies.

2. A ___________________________________ consisted of persons elected as representatives

to government. The colonial assembly met to determine laws and governmental polices for the people of their colony.

3. The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first ____________________________ government

in the colonies. The Mayflower Compact

1. In 1620, the ____________________ and Puritans traveling to Virginia on the Mayflower encountered a storm in the Atlantic and their boat moved almost 1,000 miles off course.


Unit: 1 Lesson: 3

© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10


2. Outside the jurisdiction of Virginia Law, the male members of the Mayflower drew up a compact that guaranteed a ___________________________ system of government and the protection of individual rights.

3. This compact became known as the ______________________________.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut served as the first written colonial _________________________.

2. Adopted in _________, the Connecticut’s constitution protected the individual rights of the

Connecticut colonists.

3. The constitution also established a religious ___________________ government and helped to serve as an example for future colonial constitutions.

Question: How do you think the Magna Carta influenced the development of colonial self-governments? The Results of Colonial Self-Government

1. Colonists believed their __________________ as British citizens were secured by both the British and Colonial governments.

2. The long _____________ from a centralized government and existence under

_______________ neglect caused colonists to become self-governing and politically self-sufficient.

3. It would not be until the British government ________________________ the status of

American colonists’ self-government that the colonists decided to rebel. Questions:

1. In your life today, what rights do you feel are the most important? 2. Would you be willing to fight for those rights? Why or why not?

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