17th Century Settlers and Early Government in the Colonies Royal Colonies Charter Colonies Proprietary Colonies

Royal Colonies This was the most common type of colony and subject the most control by England

John Smith John Smith was made part of a multi-person council that would govern a group, whose purpose was to generate profit in the form of mineral wealth and goods in North America. The voyagers set sail at the end of 1606, he arrived with the group at Chesapeake Bay in April 1607. The settlement was named Jamestown and would eventually be known as the first permanent British North American colony.

Government in The Virginia Colony In April, 1619, Governor George Yeardley arrived in Virginia and created a legislative assembly. It became the House of Burgesses — the first legislative assembly in the American colonies.

Charter Colonies This type of colony was the least common type of colony and subject to the least control by England

John Winthrop John Winthrop was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony He was the chief figure among the Puritan founders of New England.

William Bradford William Bradford was a founder and longtime governor of the Plymouth Colony settlement. He was born in England, he migrated with the Separatist congregation to the Netherlands as a teenager. Bradford was among the passengers on the Mayflower’s trans-Atlantic journey, and he signed the Mayflower Compact upon arriving in Massachusetts in 1620.

Signing of the Mayflower Compact

Mayflower Compact, 1620 1620, Pilgrims arriving near the New England Coast agree to write a contract that allows for self-government. The Mayflower Compact promised that every adult male would vote for the Governor and his advisors on a yearly basis. It supports the idea of majority rule.

Proprietary Colonies This type of colony was the second most common type of colony and subject to somewhat less control by the Crown.

Cecil Calvert

William Penn

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639 First written constitution in North America. It was the work of a Puritan clergyman, Thomas Hooker. It was a outline for self-government of the colony. The well being of the community came before the individual. Adult males elected a governor, assistants, and a legislative assembly to make laws for the community.

Colonial Government Colonial governments like the House of Burgesses elect their own representatives Representatives impose taxes, fines and managed colonial affairs Colonists believe they are Englishmen and should have a say in their government Colonists are used to running their governments on their own, the English have let the colonies get used to this

James II “Divine Rights” belief that the king was God’s choice to rule on earth A monarch has absolute power over his nation A monarch appoints government officials who answer to him not the people A monarch passed laws without the peoples consent or input

The Glorious Revolution Glorious because no one died in battle and Revolution because the English overthrow the last Catholic monarch Parliament takes away many powers from the monarchy Monarchs William of Orange and Mary agree to give Parliament more power

English Bill of Rights, 1689 Monarchs William of Orange and Mary agree to give Parliament and people have more power under Bills of rights than the monarchs: Parliament agrees on laws not the king Raise taxes Parliament okays the raising of an army Parliament and public have free speech against the government Trial by jury Elections and debates

Colonial Government King appointed the governor in his place Governor appointed by King and had final say on laws Assemblies made laws, passed taxes, paid governor’s salary which made the governor listen to the assemblies

Freedom of the Press John Peter Zenger Trial, 1735 Arrested for exposing governor’s corruption in his paper Charged with seditious libel Wins freedom of press and papers will begin to address political issues

Colonial Government What important English Rights did the colonist gain from the following dates. 1215, 1689, 1735? What is a representative government? Who had more power in the colonial government system. The king, governor or the assemblies? Compare and contrast a monarchy and a representative government. Create an illustrated time line on representative government in colonial America.