WTP: Unit One WTP: Unit One

What are the philosophical and

historical foundations of the American Political System?

What are the philosophical and

historical foundations of the American Political System?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government? Colonial America

Rural Spotting relationship between

colonists and Natives A few influential families dominated

most towns or regions

Colonial America Rural Spotting relationship between

colonists and Natives A few influential families dominated

most towns or regions

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government? Influences on the Founders:

Aristotle Hobbes Cicero Locke Montesquie Blackstone Also experience as colonies affected ideas

on government Lax British control left a lot of self governing.

Influences on the Founders: Aristotle Hobbes Cicero Locke Montesquie Blackstone Also experience as colonies affected ideas

on government Lax British control left a lot of self governing.

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government? Possible Forms of government:

Monarchy Tyranny

Aristocracy Oligarchy

Polity Democracy

Did not trust the power in one’s or the masses hands.

Possible Forms of government: Monarchy

Tyranny Aristocracy

Oligarchy Polity

Democracy

Did not trust the power in one’s or the masses hands.

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government? Solution:

Republican form of government Res publica

“public thing” Needed the massess to be filtered Protect them from themselves Protect rights of the minority Protect the interests of both the majority

and minority in order to sustain government.

Solution: Republican form of government Res publica

“public thing” Needed the massess to be filtered Protect them from themselves Protect rights of the minority Protect the interests of both the majority

and minority in order to sustain government.

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional

government? Whats a constitution?

Unwritten Constitution Great Britain Combination of written laws and precedents that

create a “constitutional body” Creates limited government & rule of law

Government limited by the provisions of the constitution and is not above the law but rather restrained/constrained by it.

Whats a constitution? Unwritten Constitution

Great Britain Combination of written laws and precedents that

create a “constitutional body” Creates limited government & rule of law

Government limited by the provisions of the constitution and is not above the law but rather restrained/constrained by it.

Lesson Two:What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation?

Lesson Two:What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation? Old School influences (from antiquity)

Classical republicanism Common good

altruism Civic virtue

State, city before the individual citizen Small, uniform communities

Homogenous and exclusive Moral Education

Common values and religious beliefs

Old School influences (from antiquity) Classical republicanism

Common good altruism

Civic virtue State, city before the individual citizen

Small, uniform communities Homogenous and exclusive

Moral Education Common values and religious beliefs

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation?

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation? Philosophy & Government Locke and Hobbes

Natural rights philosophy State of nature

Law of nature-Inalienable rights--LLP

Philosophy & Government Locke and Hobbes

Natural rights philosophy State of nature

Law of nature-Inalienable rights--LLP

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation?

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation? Natural Rights Philosophy

Social Contract Theory unwritten contract between members

of a society To preserve rights of the members Government instituted in order to

protect these rights and solidify this contract.

Natural Rights PhilosophySocial Contract Theory

unwritten contract between members of a society

To preserve rights of the members Government instituted in order to

protect these rights and solidify this contract.

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation?

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding

generation? Natural Rights PhilosophyKey tenets Individual rights

Inalienable rights for EVERY member(ish)

Popular sovereignty Right of revolution

Limited Government Social contract legitimacy

Natural Rights PhilosophyKey tenets Individual rights

Inalienable rights for EVERY member(ish)

Popular sovereignty Right of revolution

Limited Government Social contract legitimacy

Lesson 3: What historical developments influenced modern

ideas of individual rights?

Lesson 3: What historical developments influenced modern

ideas of individual rights? Religion and Human Rights Judeo-Christian Beliefs

Public and Private morality Virtues of community v. virtues of faith and

religion Dignity and worth of all human beings Civic virtue a matter of moral faith and

obligation as opposed to duty to society Church held lots of power because of limited

access to the Bible

Religion and Human Rights Judeo-Christian Beliefs

Public and Private morality Virtues of community v. virtues of faith and

religion Dignity and worth of all human beings Civic virtue a matter of moral faith and

obligation as opposed to duty to society Church held lots of power because of limited

access to the Bible

Lesson 3: What historical developments influenced modern

ideas of individual rights?

Lesson 3: What historical developments influenced modern

ideas of individual rights? Individual Right & the Middle AgesFeudalism Hierarchical economic and governmental system

based on ownership of resources, principally land. kights, Lords, Vassals, Fiefs (serfs)

Individual Right & the Middle AgesFeudalism Hierarchical economic and governmental system

based on ownership of resources, principally land. kights, Lords, Vassals, Fiefs (serfs)

Lesson 4: What were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism?

Lesson 4: What were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism?

How did rights develop in England? Rights of Englishmen -

Common law Generally procedural due process rights

Magna Carta 1215 “Great Charter”

King John & his barons, clergy, and merchants

Rule of law Basic rights Included redress of grievances Government by contract

How did rights develop in England? Rights of Englishmen -

Common law Generally procedural due process rights

Magna Carta 1215 “Great Charter”

King John & his barons, clergy, and merchants

Rule of law Basic rights Included redress of grievances Government by contract

Lesson 4: What were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism?

Lesson 4: What were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism? Concepts of the British Constitution

Petition of Right 1628 Charles needed $ Parliament said ok if…

Increased Parliaments role and rightsQuartering soldiersSome procedural due process rights

Habeas Corpus Act 1679 Deliver the body

No detainment without charges English Bill of Rights 1689

Result of Glorious Revolution Rule of law Representive government

Concepts of the British Constitution Petition of Right 1628

Charles needed $ Parliament said ok if… Increased Parliaments role and rights

Quartering soldiersSome procedural due process rights

Habeas Corpus Act 1679 Deliver the body

No detainment without charges English Bill of Rights 1689

Result of Glorious Revolution Rule of law Representive government