Unit 2 – Topic 8: How did constitutional government

develop in Great Britain?

Lesson Goal: Students will be able to describe the struggles for power between the English monarch and Parliament.

Students will be able to explain how these struggles led to a system of separated powers and representative government.

Students will be able to describe some of the important constitutional documents in British history that influenced the

writing of our constitution.

RAP: The Founders were very concerned about the abuse of power, and designed a system of checks and balances to limit the government’s power. Explain why or why not you agree with them and their system.

Rights of Englishmen

Before independence – British subjects

As subjects:– The right to a trial by jury– Security from unlawful entry into one’s home– No taxation without consent

The Constitution of Great Britain

Not a single written document– Common law– Laws passed by Parliament

Feudal System

Brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066

Is a system of governing

Based on control of the land

Feudal System

3 social groups– Royalty – king, queen and their family

Government by king or queen is a monarchy

– Nobility – lords, ladies held titles of earl, duke, duchess, and barons.

Worked for the monarchy aiding them to control England

– Common people – rest of the peopleKnights, soldiers of the king, merchants, and peasants (serfs)

Farmed the land

Not free to leave the area in which they worked

How the monarchy ruled.

All public land belonged to the monarchToo much land to rule– Nobility controlled parts of the land and the

people– Nobles pledged loyalty to the king and to go

to war– Nobles divided the land

Assigned vassals to control the land and peopleVassals owed loyalty and military service to the nobles

Feudal System

How did the system work?

Agreements and contracts between the monarch and the nobles

Agreements and contracts between the nobles and the vassals

Contracts included– Rights and responsibilities that the parties owed to

each other.

This is a government based on a contract.– Those in power pledged to respect the rights of those

who pledged loyalty

Importance of Feudal System

Development of constitutional government

Monarchs began to share their power with the nobles.

RAP:

Without looking back, explain the feudal system.

Steps to the Magna Carta

Royalty shared some of its power with nobles.When King John tried to take back some of the rights given to nobles, they rebelled.Nobles were very powerful and forced King John to sign an agreement.The agreement was the Magna Carta– Important because it limited the power of a

ruler

The Magna Carta

Influenced the Founders in 2 ways– Government was based on a contract

If either side breaks the contract, the contract is no longer valid

Both sides are responsible for fulfilling its terms

– Both government and the governed must obey the law (rule of law).

Law limits the power of government

Property could not be taken without following agreed upon procedures and rules

Parliament

Nobles forced the king to create an advisory council (Parliament)

Parliament is the legislative branch of the English government– House of Lord – represented the nobles– House of Commons – represent the people

who owned large amounts of land – not nobles - this was a loophole/issue, because ONLY common people who are ALSO landowners can be included in this government

Parliament

Eventually Parliament represented the interests of their regions.Constant struggle for power between royalty, the nobles, and the commons.The king – forced the people for money without consent

from Parliament– Required people to house soldiers in their

homes

Petition of Right

The king’s actions made Parliament force the king to agree to the Petition of Right

The Petition of Right– The king could only raise taxes with the

consent of Parliament– Soldiers could no longer be housed in homes

of the people– Strengthened the idea that English subjects

had certain rights.

Civil War

Struggle between the monarch and Parliament became so intense – civil wars broke out.

Nobles won in 1649

Parliament ordered the execution of the king

1688 – balance of power shifted to Parliament

English Bill of Rights

Passed by Parliament in 1689

Laws gave Parliament the right to limit the powers of the monarch– Elections to Parliament were free – The people have the right to petition the king

English Bill of Rights

The monarchy was no longer allowed to– Collect taxes without consent– Interfere with the right to free speech and debate– Maintain an army in peace time– Prevent Protestants from having arms for their

defense– Require excessive bail or administer cruel punishment

for those accused or convicted of crimes– Declare laws made by Parliament should not be

obeyed.

Colonies

This happened at the same time the British were establishing colonies.

The colonists brought the ideas about a good government with them to the new world

WIO

Student Choice:

Imagine that you are a member of the nobility living in England. Write a letter to the editor or draw an editorial cartoon illustrating the importance of the rights listed in the Magna Carta.