The document discusses the key ideas and events that shaped colonial views of government and led to the formation of the first modern democratic nation, the United States. Colonial thinkers were influenced by Judeo-Christian traditions of natural law and Greco-Roman ideas of direct democracy and representative government. English documents like the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and Bill of Rights established principles of limited government, individual rights, and rule of law. Enlightenment philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau further developed ideas of social contracts, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty that influenced America's founders. Key events like the American Revolution and debates around the Articles of Confederation and Constitution established America's

1. The Roots of American Democracy TCI ch3 June 25, 2008

2. Day 3 - Notes (write this stuff down) (TCI ch3) Essential Question: What ideas gave birth the the world’s first modern democratic nation?

3. Ideas that shaped Colonial views on gov’t colonial thinkers influenced by Judeo-Christian traditions natural law - belief in moral principles beyond human laws colonial thinkers influenced by Greco-Romans direct democracy - New England town meetings representative gov’t - citizens elect officials to serve country

4. English Roots Magna Carta (1215)- great charter - limited King John’s power (taxation without consent of nobles) established rule of law - gov’t is based on clear and fairly enforced laws and no one is above the law

5. English Roots Petition of Right (1628) - limited gov’t - powers of gov’t are restricted by constitution (arrests/quartering troops) English Bill of Rights (1689) - individual rights - natural rights, rights by virtue of being human (no cruel punishment; jury trial)

6. English Enlightenment Thinkers Thomas Hobbes - in natural state people war, they enter social contract - obey absolute ruler to have peace in society (not democracy) John Locke - all people have natural rights - life, liberty, property - social contract to protect people - BUT - right to overthrow ruler if natural rights not protected

7. French Enlightenment Thinkers Baron de Montesquieu - gov’t should organize to prevent one part from being too powerful - proposed three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to limit each other - separation of powers

8. French Enlightenment Thinkers Jean-Jacques Rousseau - for social contract to have legitimacy - based on popular sovereignty - people are ultimate source of authority in gov’t if gov’t acted contrary to popular will, people have right to revolt

9. American Revolution: Highlights Mayflower Compact - written agreement for governing colony practice making constitutions and having legislative assemblies French and Indian War - taxes - “no taxation . . .” - tea party - militias - CofCs - Dec of Ind -

10. Articles of Confederation not so great, no money - Shay’s Rebellion but - did defeat and negotiate treaty with Britain successfully and pass Northwest Ordinance

11. Constitutional Convention Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia Geo. Washington presider of meeting James Madison - very excited - creates Virginia Plan before meeting VA Pan - bicameral legislature (lower house elects upper house) based on state population

12. Constitutional Convention New Jersey Plan - unicameral legislature, each states has same number of reps Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise - one house based on pop, one house based equal reps

13. More Compromises Three-Fifths Compromise - slaves count as 3/5 during census Congress could regulate foreign and interstate commerce but not tax exports

14. Executive Branch Single President Electoral College - special electors to choose president (equal to number of members of Congress)

15. Ratifying Constitution Anti-federalists - opposed to strong central gov’t Federalists - supported Constitution - Hamilton, Madison, John Jay wrote Federalist Papers to convince people to ratify - promised Bill of Rights to appease Ratified in1788, Washington elected president in 1789

16. END OF NOTES that was a lot of notes