The document outlines several key events and documents that influenced the development of rights and democracy in America, including the Magna Carta which established rights against unlawful seizure of property and taxation without representation. It also discusses how the English parliamentary system was modeled by colonial assemblies and how the English Bill of Rights after the Glorious Revolution established limits on monarchal power and guaranteed free elections and frequent parliamentary meetings. Finally, it describes how colonists began claiming these same rights of Englishmen which led to a period of less interference from England known as salutary neglect and the establishment of freedom of the press.

1. Roots of American Democracy
Rights of the Englishman

2. Magna Carta
• Property cannot be seized by the king or his
officials
• Couldn’t be put on trial based on an official’s
word only (need witnesses)
• Can’t be taxed without representation
• Trial by jury of peers

3. Parliament is the model for colonial
government
• Parliament (England’s law making body)House
of Lords (appointed) and the House of
Commons (elected)
• Colonists copy the house of Commons with
small elected assemblies like the House of
Burgesses in Virginia

4. King limits self government (time line)
Colonists
smuggle
Colonist claim
England cant
make laws
Charter
Revoked
Protestors
Jailed
Colonists
refuse to pay
taxes
Gov. Andros
ends
Assemblies
Increase
Mather goes
to England
A
Revolution
underway

5. Glorious Revolution
• 1688-9 King James II is replaced by his
daughter Mary and her husband William –
They promise to uphold the English Bill of
Rights

6. English Bill of Rights
• Monarch couldn’t cancel laws or impose taxes
without parliament’s approval
• Free Elections and frequent meetings of
Parliament are guaranteed
• Excessive fines and cruel punishments are
forbidden
• People could complain without being put in
jail

7. Colonists claim rights
• The colonists quickly claim their rights and a
long period of hands-off government begins
(called the period of Salutary (beneficial)
Neglect)
• Zenger is a newspaper publisher who is taken
to court for criticizing the governor of NY but
the court decides that people have the right to
speak the truth- he’s released and Freedom of
the Press is created