Colonial Government and the Roots of American Democracy

Flashcards covering English constitutional influences, Enlightenment philosophers, colonial government structures, and the post-French and Indian War period.

When and where was the first established settlement founded in the U.S. during the Colonial Period?

It was established in Jamestown Virginia in 1607.

What two key factors formed the foundation of early colonial governance?

Limited government and representative government.

What is the core principle of a limited government?

The King does not have absolute power.

What is the historical significance of the Magna Carta?

It is credited as the beginning of limited government and was the first document to limit a King's power.

What specific rights and principles were established under the Magna Carta?

Individual liberties, rule of law, separation of church and state, trial by jury, the right of all free citizens to own and inherit property, protection from taxes, and protection for widows from being forced to remarry.

What restrictions were established when Charles wanted absolute power in 1625 under the Petition of Right?

It limited the monarch's power to levy taxes without consent of Parliament, forbade quartering people, and banned jailing people without a proper trial by jury.

What was the English Bill of Rights (1689), and what conflict led to its creation?

It was an act declaring the rights and liberties of subjects, which grew out of the Glorious Revolution.

What does the term "bicameral" mean?

Having two houses or chambers.

How were the House of Lords and the House of Commons distinguished in the British Parliament?

The House of Lords was the upper house composed of the first sons of noble families, while the House of Commons consisted of elected representatives, though the majority of the population could not vote.

How are "nature" and "nurture" distinguished during the Enlightenment Period?

"Nature" refers to what you are born with, while "nurture" refers to what you develop as you get older.

What major arguments were presented in John Locke's Two Treatises of Government (1690)?

It attacked support for the divine right of kings, and the second treatise proposed a solution to political upheaval in England.

According to John Locke, what three things are all human beings born with?

Life, liberty, and property.

What was Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view on human nature and society?

He argued that human beings are inherently good, but "man is free, & he is everywhere in Chains" because humans are corrupted by society.

What was the primary focus of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's work Emile?

It focused on his philosophical opinions on education, including the idea that women needed to be educated as well as men.

What three components made up the government of each English colony?

A governor, a legislature, and a court system.

What restriction existed regarding religious participation in 9 of the 13 American colonies?

They had official religions, and individuals were not allowed to take part in any decisions unless they were part of the church community.

What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?

Pilgrims agreed to choose their own leaders and make their own laws designed for their own benefit.

What was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut?

The first written constitution in America, which created self-rule.

What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?

The first legislature established in America.

What was the role and authority of the colonial governor?

The governor held executive power and served as the King's agent in the colonies.

Who first introduced the concept of the separation of powers into three branches, and in which work?

Charles-Louis in The Spirit of Laws.

How did the outcome of the French and Indian War change the relationship between the American colonists and Britain?

The British defeated the French and eliminated the French threat, leading American colonists to conclude that they no longer needed the British to protect them.

How did King George III respond to the large debt incurred from the French and Indian War?

He expected American colonists to help pay for the war and had his ministers levy taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, and other goods.