Peter Zengers Trial The English Parliamentary Tradition In England 1215 English nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta The Magna Carta was significant because it was the first document to put restrictions on an English rulers power ID: 297779
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Slide1
Governing the Colonies
Peter Zenger’s TrialSlide2
The English Parliamentary Tradition
In England 1215, English nobles forced King John to sign the Magna
Carta
The Magna Carta was significant because it was the first document to put restrictions on an English ruler’s powerIt said the king could not raise taxes, people had the right to own property, and right to trial by jury
King John Signs the Magna
CartaSlide3
The British Parliament
The British Parliament was a two-house legislature made up of two houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons
This will be the law making body for England up to modern times
The British Parliament ca. 1600sSlide4
English Bill of Rights
In 1689, King William and Queen Mary signed the English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights:
Restated many rights (trial by jury)Upheld habeas corpusKing could not levy taxes without the ParliamentInfluenced American Bill of Rights 100 years later
King William IIISlide5
Colonial Self-Government
The colonists expected to have a voice in their government, just like their English counterparts
Many colonies establish their own governments (House of Burgesses, General Court)
Not everybody had a voice though (women, Natives, Africans)Slide6
Freedom of the Press
In 1735, John Peter Zenger, a publisher, printed articles criticizing the New York governor
He was charged with libel
His lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, argued the articles were based on factZenger was found innocent and his court case helped establish freedom of the press
The Trial of Peter ZengerSlide7
Regulating Trade – Navigation Acts
England still used the theory of mercantilism with it’s colonies
To support mercantilism, they passed a set of laws called the Navigation Acts:
Shipments to the colonies had to go to England firstColonists had to use British shipsColonies could only sell products to England
Positives: colonial traders had a large market, supported the shipbuilding industryNegatives: laws favored English merchants, they could make more money on their ownTo get around the laws, colonists started smuggling