The Colonial Experience Colonial Charters & Self-Government

England’s American Colonies Tradition of Representative Government

Virginia – House of Burgesses America’s first representative assembly for making laws 1618 – Head of Virginia Company allowed for the right to elect its own assembly to propose laws First Meeting: July 30, 1619

Massachusetts – Mayflower Compact Laws for Plymouth would be subject to colonists’ approval and consent. Citizens met regularly to discuss problems and vote directly on laws. Town meetings – were an important element in the development of a democracy A new legal basis for the colony.

English Colonies The laws were made, in part, by a popularly elected assembly King appointed colonial governors (opposed by the assembly) Colonial assemblies controlled the power of the purse Not fully democratic – not all could vote

Voting Prohibited: Only white male property owners could vote All women All slaves Men who did not own property Only white male property owners could vote

Albany Plan of Union Meeting between the British, Colonies, Iroquois – against common enemy: the French June 1754 Led by Benjamin Franklin Proposed: the colonies unite to form a federal government Failed, but showed that some colonies were willing to combine forces of colonies.

Early Colonists Believed in property rights and enforceable contracts Land was privately owned/purchased Indentured servants serve full term Joint-stock companies in certain areas Virginia company made supplies for colonies, produce only what England needed, buy everything they needed from England - mercantilism

Native American Governmental Systems Loose confederations of villages or tribal clans Move to form tribal councils for better defense In New York, the six nations of the Iroquois had formed a confederate system for cooperating for their mutual benefit. Haudenosaunee political system

Colonial Slavery By the American Revolution – 20% of the population (750-850,000 people) were slaves. First Developed: Chesapeake Region (Maryland/Virginia) Major Cash Crop: Tobacco Leading States in the South Led to the development of plantations

Southern Hierarchy Wealthy Planters Small Farm Owners Enslaved Africans Indentured Servants

Indentured Servants – poor tenant farmers from Europe who sold their labor for a chance to come to America and acquire own land

Bacon’s Rebellion Governor Berkeley and the wealthy elites were exempted from taxes and were the only ones allowed to vote Most important issue: ability to acquire land Only land available was Native American land, the wealthy did not want to anger the Native Americans Bacon organized his own militia to attack the Native Americans Fought the larger picture: corrupt political officials, Berkeley

The New England Colonies Slavery was MUCH smaller No large farms/plantations Main crop: Corn Orchards, Livestock Many slaves served as laborers and skilled artisans.

The Heart of New England Society: Towns Land was not granted to individuals but to groups of people. Establishment of community Town Meetings – Town Government

SLAVERY / FREEDOM Slavery is a direct contradiction to what was written in the Declaration of Independence Between the end of 1781 and 1800, slavery was ended in the North Slavery would expand in the South (cotton/cotton gin)

Freedom of the Press Zenger Case John Peter Zenger wrote an article criticizing the governor of New York Found not guilty because he “told the truth” Established: Freedom of the Press

Rights of English Citizens in America Salutary Neglect – England allowed the colonies to govern themselves without much interference Laws requiring them to trade only with England, not enforced Taxes, not collected. Not allowed to vote for representatives in the British Parliament.