I. Settlers come to the NEW WORLD a. Settlers settle in the New World (aka the 13 colonies) for these reasons: 1.Religious Freedom 2.Economic Opportunity

I. Settlers come to the NEW WORLD b. The settlers came from countries ruled by a:  Monarch (Government ruled by a King or Queen)

I. Settlers come to the NEW WORLD c. The Virginia Company  Also known as the Joint Stock Company  Chartered by King James I on April 10, 1606 with the purpose of est. settlements on the coast of North America (later to be known as the 13 colonies)  Empowered by the monarch, the colony was given the opportunity to govern itself = the genesis of democracy in the colonies

II. Self Gov’t: The Mayflower Compact a.Pilgrims came to the new world and established the Plymouth Colony b.The Pilgrims were fleeing England and King James for religious freedom c.Landed at Plymouth in1620 d.Wrote the Mayflower Compact in 1620 a.The FIRST self governing document in the New World

III. Self Gov’t: The House of Burgesses a. The House of Burgesses a.Created in 1619 b.First elected lawmaking body in the colonies c.Burgesses = elected representatives d.First meeting = July 30, 1619 in the Church at Jamestown

III. Self Gov’t: The House of Burgesses b. Modeled after English Parliament c. Members would meet at least once a year with their royal governor to decide local laws and determine local taxation d. What is the importance of a small legislative body formed so long ago? 1. Tradition of HoB was extremely important to colonial development 2. Each new colony demanded its own legislative turn and voice in the organization of the colonies

IV. Self Gov’t: What influenced the Colonies? a.Colony = An area under political control of another country from a distance a.EX: The 13 Colonies were under the control of the English Monarchy b.Mistreatment by the Monarchy a.Controlling from a distance b.Taxes c.Documents of Democracy a.The Magna Carta b.The English Bill of Rights

K2S3: Practice Question #4 What does the House of Burgesses help to prove about colonial government?