Colonial Influences

Question 1

Magna Carta

Answer 1

“Great Charter
Who: King John and the nobles (who forced the King to sign)
What: document signed by the king that guaranteed English political and civil liberties to nobles and landowners
When: 1215
Where: England
Why: limited king’s power
rights listed:
-property could not be seized by the king
-could not be taxed unless a council of prominent agreed
-trial by jury

Question 2

Parliament: shared power

Answer 2

Who: England's lawmaking body
What: two houses:
House of Commons (elected): 
House of Lords: (nobles, judges and clergy)
When: 1600's
Where: England
Why: representative government
-Parliament gave colonists self-government

Question 3

Mayflower Compact

Answer 3

Who: colonists aboard the Mayflower (pilgrims)
What: document that helped establish the practice of self-government and majority rule
When: 1620
Where: New England (Cape Cod)
Why: established the colonists’ guiding purpose as the greater good
-first governing document in America

Question 4

English Bill of Rights

Answer 4

Who: King James’ II daughter, Mary and her husband, William of Orange
What: a list of specific rights of the English people and Parliament
When: 1689
Where: England
Why: monarch could not cancel laws or impose taxes unless Parliament agreed
-free elections and frequent meetings
-no excessive fines and cruel punishments
-people had rights to complain without arrest
-established important principle of the government was based on laws, not the desires of a ruler
-strengthened rights of English people