The document discusses the origins and principles of government that influenced the early English colonies in North America. It describes three concepts brought by the earliest English settlers: limited government, representative government, and government based on landmark English documents like the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights. These documents established principles like rule of law and rights of citizens. The document also outlines the three types of colonies established by England: royal, proprietary, and charter colonies, which differed in their systems of government.

1. U.S. Government
Chapter 2 – Section 1

2. Limited government
Representative
government
Magna Carta
Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
Charter
Bicameral
Proprietary
Unicameral

3. Section Objectives:
 Identify three basic concepts of government in the English
colonies
 Explain the significance of the following landmark English
documents: The Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the
English Bill of Rights
 Describe three types of colonies that the English
established in North America
5.2 Understand specific historical documents and
institutions which shaped the U.S. Constitutuion.

4. The earliest English settlers brought a
knowledge of a political system which they
brought from England.
The English had some influence on their
political system from Africa and Asia.
Ancient Romans left behind a legacy of law,
religion, and custom to the people.

5. The first English colonists created local
governments based on what they had known
from England.
The offices and units that are still with us
today are: sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of
the peace, grand jury, counties, townships,
etc.

6. They also brought with them the idea that
government is limited in what it can do, and
each person has rights. Limited Government
This idea was practiced in England 400 years
before Jamestown was settled in 1607.

7. Representative Government- government
should serve the will of people.
People should have a voice in deciding what
government should and should not do.

8. The basic ideas of order, limited, and
representative governments can be traced
back to several English documents.

9. King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta (The
Great Charter) by a group of barons.
The barons were looking for protection against acts
they did not approve of by the king.
The Magna Carta included: trial by jury, due process
of law, protection against taking of life, liberty, or
property.
Over time this became the rights of all English
people.

10. The Magna Carta
British Library

11. In 1628, Charles I asked Parliament for more money
for taxes. They make him sign a Petition of Right
first.
Petition of Right challenged the idea of the divine
right of kings and declared that even monarchs
were subject to the laws of the land.
It demanded the king no longer imprison or punish
any person but by lawful judgment of his peers or by
the law of the land.

12. The Petition of Right
Parliamentary Archives, London

13. The crown was offered to William and Mary of
Orange.
English Bill of Rights- A List drawn up by Parliament
which had to be followed to prevent abuse of power
for future monarchs
It prohibited a standing army in peacetime, except
with the consent of Parliament, and required that all
parliamentary elections be free.
It guaranteed right to a fair trial, freedom from
excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment.

14. English Bill of Rights
National Archives of the U.K.

15. What principles do the Magna Carta,
the Petition of Right, and the English
Bill of Rights have in common?

16. The 13 colonies were established separately
over a span of 125 years.
Each had its own character.
Virginia was organized as a commercial
venture, Mass. people were looking for
religious freedom, GA was a place searching
rescue from England’s harsh laws.
Each colony was est. on basis of a charter, a
written grant of authority from the king.

17. Royal Colonies were subject to direct control of
king.
 The king named a governor to serve as the colony’s chief
executive.
Bicameral- two house
A council helped the governor. The governors
council became the upper house of the colonial
legislature.
The lower house was elected by property owners.

18. Proprietary Colonies- colonies organized by a
proprietor. (a person the king made a grant
of land)
That land could be settled and governed
much as the proprietor chose.
The governor of these 3 colonies was
appointed by the proprietor.
Unicameral- one house.
 Pennsylvania had a unicameral legislature.

19. Connecticut and Rhode Island
Based on charters granted to the land by the
King.
Governors were elected by white, male
property owners.
Judges in charter colonies were appointed by
legislature.

21. The English Crown gave Connecticut and
Rhode Island many freedoms not enjoyed
by other colonies. Do you agree with
historians who say that the Revolution may
have never happened if all colonies enjoyed
the same freedoms?
Why or why not? (Write at lease two
paragraphs)

22. Who had the most political influence on our
form of government?
A. Indians
B. English Settlers
C. Egyptians

23. The idea that government is limited in what it
can do, and each person has rights.
A. Representative Government
B. Democracy
C. Limited Government

24. A document signed by King John that
involved trial by jury, due process of law,
protection against taking of life, liberty, or
property.
A. Petition of Rights
B. Magna Carta
C. English Bill of Rights

25. Challenged the idea of the divine right of
kings and declared that even monarchs were
subject to the laws of the land.
A. English Bill of Rights
B. Magna Carta
C. Petition of Right

26. This type of colony was subject to direct
control of king.
A. Proprietary
B. Royal
C. Charter