Major Intellectual Ideas That Influenced American Government
- Judeo – Christian Tradition – standards of ethics held in common by Judaism and Christianity; popularized in the 1920’s as a response to anti-Semitism; traditional meaning is that America has a unique combination of secular government with a society based on religious values. Founder: Moses from the Old Testament.
America has unique religious heritage from the Puritans. The Puritans as provided the foundational values of America, based on their strong Hebrew Bible view of the world, which included fighting for earthly political justice, an emphasis on laws and education, and the "chosenness" which the Puritans identified with, giving them a sense of moral mission in founding America. The Puritan's biblical outlook gave America a moral dimension which the Old World lacked. These biblical values led to America's unique institutions of religious tolerance, public education, egalitarianism, and democracy.
The commandments are not necessarily religious but represent the moral and legal foundation of society, and are appropriate to be displayed as a historical source of present day legal codes.
Classical republic – a representative democracy in which a small group of leaders, elected by the citizens, represents the concerns of the electorate. The interests of the majority take precedence over the interests of a few. Founders were philosophers: Plato, Aristotle.
Republicanism in the age of Enlightenment – expanded on ideas of Plato and Aristotle; social contract theory; Founders were philosophers: Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu.
Magna Carta- signed by King John in 1215. Established rule of law in which government leaders must act according to set of laws. Monarch could not levy taxes without consulting the nobility. Those accused of crimes had the right of a trial by jury of peers.
Right of Petition– signed by King Charles I in 1628. Must have Parliament’s approval before levying taxes. Gave people a voice through representation in Parliament.
English Bill of Rights – signed by William and Mary in 1688. Monarchs could not rule without consent of Parliament. Especially the concept of petitioning the king without fear of reprisal.
Articles of Confederation – 1781. First form of American government. Loose association of states working together for the common good. Each state had a constitution which included a Bill of Rights, so allowed the federal government little authority.
English Common Law- body of law developed in England primarily from judicial decisions based on custom and precedent, unwritten in statute or code, and constituting the basis of the English legal system