The Origins of Early Government in the Colonies Magna Carta The Mayflower Compact The Virginia House of Burgesses Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Declaration of Rights, 1689

The Magna Carta, 1215 King John, an English King constantly demanded money and men for wars from his knights. The feudal barons in 1215 forced King John agrees that he had “no right” to demand their property without their consent.

The Magna Carta 2 important aspects: set of laws governing how the King and his subjects will deal with each other. the King is not the highest authority and that he is bound by a higher law that limits his authority.

James II “Divine Rights” belief that the king was God’s choice to rule 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 Parliament takes away many powers from the monarchy English Bill of Rights, 1689 Parliament and people have more power under Bills of rights than the monarchs

Virginia House of Burgesses first elected representative government. imposed taxes and ran the colony modeled after the English Parliament.

Mayflower Compact, 1620 1620, Pilgrims arriving near the New England Coast agree to write a contract that allows for self-government. It supports the idea of majority rule.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639 First written constitution in North America. The well being of the community came before the individual.

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

Life in the Colonies Population increase. Settlers: 250,000 (1700) to 2,500,000 (1775) Slaves: 28,000 to 500,000 Colonial Economics and the Slave Trade.

The New England Colonies As population swells we see a need of more government. Agricultural / Pre-Industrial society. Women married early had large families. Growth of Towns and Villages. Subsistence Farming Make only enough to feed family

Economics in New England Commerce Waterpower, Lumber, Mills (Grain) Cottage industry (The hidden economy of women.) Shipbuilding, Fishing, intra-colonial trade Triangular Trade

This plan above of a slave ship developed by Clarkson and his co-workers shocked the public when it appeared in 1789. It shows how 482 slaves could be packed on board the Brookes of Liverpool for the 6 to 8 week voyage to the West Indies. The Brookes actually carried 609 slaves on one voyage.

The Southern Economy Because of the good soil and long growing season the South did not develop commerce or industry. The depended on English Merchants to manage their trade. Cultivated Large Farms – Plantations which needed a large unskilled labor force.

Tobacco and Rice and The Tidewater The cash crop of Maryland and Virginia was tobacco. However, overproduction would cause profits to fall. (Q. What economic law is this?) So, farmers began the switch to corn and wheat. The cash crop of South Carolina and Georgia was Rice. Rice cultivation is a very labor intensive and nasty. Imagine working in the rice fields all day standing in mud up to your knees. (Q. Do you think that you could get an indentured servant to do this?)

Large Low-lying plains The Tidewater Large Low-lying plains along the coast. Rivers Large Self-Contained Plantations

The Three Kings of the Southern Economy (1700 – 1860) King Cotton King Tobacco King Rice

Backcountry Appalachian Mountain Foothills Small Farms Few Slaves Outnumbered Large Plantation Owners Question: What is the basis of power in the colonies and who would control the power and political influence?

Mercantilism The English viewed its American Colonies as an economic recourse. The Colonies provided raw materials for English manufacturers, and a market for finished products. As a nations trade grows, it gold reserve increase, and the nation becomes more powerful.

The Navigation Acts 1751 - 1763 Only British ships could transport goods from the colonies. The only people who were allowed to trade were British citizens. Goods produced in the colonies could be exported only to British ports. Series of acts (laws) that directed the flow of goods between England and the Colonies. Smuggling