Our English Heritage

Learning Target

I can evaluate the extent to which our government, & the men who wrote our Constitution, were influenced by their experiences with the British government & its history.

Time Line of British History

1066

William the Conqueror becomes KingIntroduces the feudal system

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

• Introduced to England by William the Conqueror

• Introduced in the year 1066

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

Under the feudal system, the people of England belonged to one of the three following groups:1.  RoyaltyIncludes the monarch (king or queen) and his/her family

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

Under the feudal system, the people of England belonged to one of the three following groups:

2.  NobilityLords and ladies who held titles such as earl, duke, baron Worked for the King so he could rule

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

Under the feudal system, the people of England belonged to one of the three following groups:3.  Common PeopleIncluded serfs & peasants

Time Line of British History

10661215

King John signs the Magna Carta

THE MAGNA CARTA

• Translates as the Great Charter• Signed by King John of England• Signed in the year 1215

THE MAGNA CARTA

The Magna Carta was a major step in the growth of English constitutional government. It contained 4 important ideas:

1. Limited GovernmentThere are limits to the powers of both the king & his nobles.

THE MAGNA CARTA

The Magna Carta was a major step in the growth of English constitutional government. It contained 4 important ideas:

2. Rule of LawLaws exist, & all citizens must obey them. The king is not above the law.

THE MAGNA CARTA

The Magna Carta was a major step in the growth of English constitutional government. It contained 4 important ideas:

3. TaxationThe king cannot increase taxes without the “consent of the realm.”

THE MAGNA CARTA

The Magna Carta was a major step in the growth of English constitutional government. It contained 4 important ideas:

4. Trial by JuryThe guilt or innocence of a citizen accused of a crime will be decided by a jury of his peers.

THE MAGNA CARTA

It is important to remember that most people in England were not a part of this agreement. Men who owned property were given far more rights than other people. Men without property, women, & children had fewer rights. However, the Magna Carta was an important step in establishing a constitutional government.

Time Line of British History

William the Conqueror becomes KingIntroduces the Feudal System

10661215

King John signs the Magna Carta

Meeting of the Model Parliament

1295

THE RISE OF PARLIAMENT

• Parliament comes from the French word parler, meaning to talk

• Met in the year 1295

• Called for by Edward I

THE RISE OF PARLIAMENT

Parliament was made up of two houses which represented the most powerful groups in the kingdom:

1. House of LordsRepresented the nobility

2. House of CommonsRepresented the non-noble property owners

THE RISE OF PARLIAMENT

Eventually, Parliament became so important that it was able to act without the king’s support. The struggle for ultimate power in England’s government came to a head in the 1600s when the Stuart kings & their Parliaments fought over a variety of issues including money, religion, & foreign policy.

THE RISE OF PARLIAMENT

At the heart of these struggles was a key constitutional issue:

Can kings act independently?

OR

Must they wait for Parliament's consent?

Time Line of British History

William the Conqueror becomes KingIntroduces the Feudal System

10661215

King John signs the Magna Carta

Meeting of the Model Parliament

12951628

Charles I signs the Petition of Right

THE PETITION OF RIGHT

• Signed by King Charles I

• Signed in the year 1628

The Petition of Right strengthened the idea that English subjects enjoyed certain fundamental rights that no government can deny.

THE PETITION OF RIGHT

Time Line of British History

William the Conqueror becomes KingIntroduces the Feudal System

10661215

King John signs the Magna Carta

Meeting of the Model Parliament

12951628

Charles I signs the Petition of Right

1678

Charles II signs the Habeas Corpus Act

THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT

• Translates as “to have the body”• Adopted in the year 1678

A writ a habeas corpus orders the government to…

…deliver the person it has arrested to a court & to explain why the arrest was made.

The struggle between the King & Parliament eventually resulted in a bloodless revolution known as the Glorious Revolution. As a result, King James II was overthrown & forced to flee the country.

THE ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

THE ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

• Who took the king’s place? William & Mary

• In what year? 1688

• What was the condition of their succession?English Bill of Rights

The English Bill of Rights established and/or reinforced several important constitutional principles:

THE ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

1. Government by consent & contract

2. Rule of Law

3. Trial by Jury

4. Parliamentary Supremacy

Evolution of English Monarchy

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

William the Conqueror

Evolution of English Monarchy

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

King John

Evolution of English Monarchy

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

Elizabeth I

Charles I

Evolution of English Monarchy

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

Charles I

Evolution of English Monarchy

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

William & Mary

Evolution of English Monarchy

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

Elizabeth II