Foundations of our Constitution and our Bill of Rights

and one of the toughest spelling bee words, a below-decks hell, and a little poetry

Foundations of the US Government III

America, Jon Stewart

Foundation Documents

•How did George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison influence our gov’t’s foundations?

Foundation Documents•But first:

•consider how might the supporters of slavery also have appealed to the natural rights philosophy to justify their cause?

•could Thomas Jefferson successfully run as a presidential candidate today? Hello, Ms. Hemmings, Connie Chung on line 2....

•Could James Madison, father of the Constitution, run a successful political campaign? ...all 5’4” of him?

• and how one of the most classically difficult spelling bee words is tied to Virginia colonial welfare...and maybe a little poetry

What did early colonists expect from their gov’t?

The persons that shall dwell within the colony shall have all Liberties as if they had been abiding and born within this our realm of England or any other of our said dominionsRoyal Charter of Jamestown Colony in Virginia

This, of course, embodied the ______ _______ which guaranteed that all Englishmen, wherever they went, enjoyed certain fundamental rights, which needed to be confirmed time to time in official documents

Magna Carta

Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason

* Written a month b4 Declaration of Independence

* Written by G. Mason who later was against ratification of the US Constitution b/c it did not originally have a Bill of Rights

* He relied heavily on big man #1 ____ ____and classical republicanismand unique colonial experience

John Locke

Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason1. All men by nature are equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights of which when they enter a compact they cannot be deprived2. Gov’t is instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of people. If the gov’t does not serve these purposes, the people have an unalienable right to alter or abolish it

Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason

3. Virginia Declaration of Rights also included rights we enjoy today (federally and in our state)

- right to trial by jury- protection against forced self-incrimination- protection from cruel and unusual punishment - free exercise of religion

That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of one’s conscience

Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason4. Virginia Declaration of Rights ended with classic republicanism - stating it was every citizen’s civic virtue to show tolerance and charity towards each other.

Each individual must accept responsibility to live according to certain moral principals and ideals

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Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, by Thomas Jefferson

* What is one of the biggest, most difficult spelling bee words?

disestablishentariansim

Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.

Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, by Thomas Jefferson

* States that all people should be free to worship as they please* First time religious freedom was protected by law

* Basis for First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees religious freedom

James Madison: Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights

The Ultimate Game Strategist

• sickly• short• super smart• our country’s ultimate political philosopher

James Madison: Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights

The Ultimate Game Strategist• kept detailed notes during the Constitutional Convention

• Engineered compromises on the most difficult issues facing the delegates

• authored the “Virginia Plan” which proposed a federal gov’t of 3 separate branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) and became the foundation for the structure of the new gov’t

• authored much of the Bill of Rights

Foundations of Our Rights and Freedoms

Rights & Freedoms Eng. Bill of Rights Va Declaration of Rights Bill of RightsMagna Carta

Trail by jury

No unreasonablesearch or seizures

No cruel punishment

No excessive bailor fines

Right to bear arms

Right to Petition

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Press

Freedom of Religion

Due Process

Private property