Chapter 4, Lesson 2 Life in the American Colonies (1607-1770)

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government English Principles of Government 1) Protected Rights: - colonists believed the govt. must respect civil rights. idea first appeared in the Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215. Document gave English two things: protection against unjust treatment or punishment monarchy (kings & queens were bound by law)

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government English Principles of Government 2) Representative Government: The citizens chose people to make laws and run the government. Representative government gathered in the Parliament which was made up of two chambers (houses) 1. House of Lords – eldest son of upper, ruling class. 2. House of Commons – made up of commoners- mostly merchants or property owners elected by other property owners. *Both had power to make laws. *American legislatures loosely based on this model.

Glorious Revolution Mid 1600’s, Parliament & King James II began a struggle for control of the government. In 1688, Parliament removed King James II from power and replaced with William & Mary. From this point forward, Parliament had more power than the monarchy. Brought a major change in the idea of gov’t in England- no ruler would have more power than Parliament.

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government English Bill of Rights- set clear limits on a ruler’s power. Established by Parliament in 1689 and said: Monarch could not suspend Parliament’s laws. Monarch could not impose taxes or raise an army w/o Parliament’s approval Parliament members would be freely elected. Citizens of England had the right to a fair trial by jury. Banned against cruel & unusual punishment.

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government Charter Colonies: Charter colonies were based on a charter, a grant of rights by the English monarch to a company. Massachusetts was a charter colony.

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government Proprietary Colonies Proprietary colonies were the property of an owner or group of owners. These proprietors ruled more or less as they wished. For example, they named their own governors and many other colonial officials. Pennsylvania was a proprietary colony.

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government Royal Colonies Under direct English control. Virginia became the first royal colony in 1624. Parliament chose a governor and council, known as the upper house. Colonists selected an assembly, or lower house. Upper house usually did what the king and Parliament told them to do. Often this went against the wishes of the lower house.

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government English Economic Policies Many European countries believed in mercantilism  theory that a country’s wealth and power was based on its supplies of gold & silver. Countries looked to export more than they imported. To control colonial trade, Parliament passed the Navigation Acts.

Lesson 2 – Colonial Government Navigation Acts: The laws forced colonists to sell their raw materials to England even if they could get a better price elsewhere. Goods bought by the colonies from other countries in Europe had to go to England first and be taxed. All trade goods had to be carried on ships built in England or the colonies. The crews on the ships had to be English as well.