Colonial Government Section Two

A) English Principles of Government

King James II (1688) In 1688, the Glorious Revolution in England saw the removal of King James II from the English throne. His daughter, Mary, is placed on his throne with her husband William.

Glorious Revolution

William & Mary (1688) The English ideas of a limited and representative government with the citizens having certain individual rights were very important ideas that traveled to the American colonies as well. These ideas began in A.D. 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta by King John.

English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights gave individual rights to the English people. This inspired the American colonists as well.

Magna Carta

Types of Colonies Settlers were given permission by England to establish a colony. In proprietary colonies, owners of the colony ruled it as they wished. A colony was ruled directly by England.

Charter Colony Charter Colonies are those which were granted a “charter” (or the right) to establish a colony. All decisions required British approval. Rhode Island, Connecticut

Proprietary Colony Proprietary Colonies were governed by their owners (individuals or groups who received permission from Britain). They had complete control over the colony. Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland

Royal Colony Royal Colonies were those governed directly by the British government. Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia

Voters In the colonial governments, only adult white males who owned land could vote or participate in government.

Natural Resources

Mercantilism England used the American colonies for their natural resources, using the theory of mercantilism, to create goods to export to other nations.

Mercantilism The theory that a nation or country’s power depended on its wealth.

Navigation Acts Everything goes to England FIRST, on English ships..

B) English Economic Policies

Navigation Acts Between 1651 and 1673, the Navigation Acts were passed and they demanded that American colonies send their goods to England first, using only English ships. The colonists could not trade with other nations.

Smuggling Smuggling became very common as American colonists faced laws of the Navigation Acts. They were very angry of their unfair treatment by the British government.