1. th
8 Grade
Social Studies
Unit: 1 Lesson: 3
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 _____________________________
© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10

2. th
8 Grade
Social Studies
Unit: 1 Lesson: 3
PowerPoint Note Set (pp. 2 of 4)
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?
© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10

3. th
8 Grade
Social Studies
Unit: 1 Lesson: 3
PowerPoint Note Set (pp. 3 of 4)
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.
© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10

4. th
8 Grade
Social Studies
Unit: 1 Lesson: 3
PowerPoint Note Set (pp. 4 of 4)
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?
© 2010, TESCCC 09/15/10