Who Makes the Rules?

Absolute Monarchies&

Constitutional Government

Limited and UnlimitedGovernments

Government

Limited UnlimitedO Restraints are

placed on the power and authority of government

O Individual rights and freedoms are restrained

O Total obedience to the government is expected

EnglandO King John had been a strong

supporter of absolute monarchy, believing he should have total control over the peopleO Divine right – belief that God has

given monarchs the authority to ruleO 1215- English nobles forced King

John to sign the Magna CartaO Established the idea of limited

governmentO Stated that people have certain rights

FranceOKing Louis XIV known as the “Sun

King” for the belief that all revolved around him

OBanned the “Estates-General” (France’s Congress) from meeting

OControlled taxes, the military, and business

OLeft the country in debt and with many enemies at his death

RussiaOPeter I (Peter the Great) believed in

divine right to ruleOFollowed the French example instead

of the BritishOMade himself the head of the Russian

Orthodox churchOUsed his power to strengthen Russia

OExpanded technology, science, business, and military

Glorious RevolutionO1215: King John signs the Magna CartaO1485-1603: Tudors reign, monarchs do

not have absolute powerO1603: Queen Elizabeth dies without

children, her cousin James I becomes king. King James believes in divine right, doesn’t tolerate the questioning of his authority

O1625: James I dies, Charles I becomes king and tries to govern by divine right

O1628: Parliament enacts the Petition of Rights which bans the king from…OPassing taxes without the consent of

ParliamentOQuartering troops in private homesO Imprisoning a person without charges

O1642: Charles ignores PoR, favors Catholics. Oliver Cromwell organizes army in support of Parliament, conflict between king and parliament starts English civil war.

O1646: Parliament wins control of government

O1647: Charles I is tried & executed. Attempt is made to end monarchy and establish representative government. This fails so Cromwell imposes martial law (rule by the military).

O1658: Oliver Cromwell dies, his son, Richard, takes over.

O1660: Monarchy restored, Charles II (son of Charles I) is made king….this is called the Restoration.

O1685: Charles II dies without children. His brother, James II, becomes king.

O1688: James and his wife are Catholic, when they have a child the Parliament fears the establishment of a Catholic monarchy. To prevent this, the Parliament invites James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, to take the throne. This bloodless takeover is called the Glorious Revolution.

O1689: English Bill of Rights of 1689 limits the monarchy & states the rights of Parliament and the people.

The Enlightenment

Thomas Hobbes

OState of Nature- people without government

OSocial Contract Theory- government is created as an agreement between people to benefit each other

John Locke (English)O Influenced by the Glorious RevolutionO Thought the “state of nature” was goodO “Social contract” was voluntaryO Purpose of government was/is to protect

rights of citizensO If the government doesn’t protect those

rights the people have the right to get rid of the government

O Influenced Thomas Jefferson and the American Revolution

Jean-Jacques RousseauOBelieved society had a corrupting

influence on peopleOIt was/is the role of government to

protect the “general will” of the peopleOThey must enact policies that are

beneficial to the population in generalOInfluenced those arguing for

totalitarian governments

Baron de MontesquieuOPromoted the idea of the separation of powers and checks & balances

OAdmired the English system of unlimited government

OInfluence is seen in the US Constitution

Constitutions and Government

What is a “constitution”?

O The “law” which establishes the structure and operation of government and details the relationship of the people to their government

Positive vs. NegativeO Centers on the

roles and responsibilities that a government IS SUPPOSED TO PERFORM

O Focuses on the LIMITS PLACED on the government

Forms of Government