Life in the Colonies

The English Parliamentary Tradition  English colonies brought with them that they had political rights.  King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta (meaning: great charter).  The Magna Carta was the first document to place restrictions on an English ruler’s power.  The Magna Carta:  It limited the monarch’s rights to levy taxes without consulting nobles.  Protected the right to own private property and guaranteed the right to trial by jury.

Parliament  the Great Council that advised the king.  Two-house legislature  The House of the Lords: made up of nobles  Members of the House of Commons were elected.  Only a few rich men and landowners had the right to vote for the House of Commons.  Parliament’s greatest power: approve new taxes

English Bill of Rights  1688: King James II was removed from the throne and replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband William to rule England.  Mary and William signed the English Bill of Rights.  The English Bill of Rights restated many rights granted by the Magna Carta such a trial by jury, habeas corpus, and no monarch could levy taxes or raise an army without consent of the Parliament.

 Colonial Legislature  House of Burgesses became the first legislature in English North America.  Massachusetts set up a legislature called the General Court in 1629, and gained the right to elect delegates 5 years later.  1701, colonists forced William Penn (he and his council originally made laws) to agree that only the General Assembly could make laws.

 Colonies offered settlers greater political rights than they would have had in England.  50-75% of white males could vote in American colonies.  Still, English women, Native Americans, or Africans could not vote in any colony.

Freedom of the Press  John Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, was arrested for printing a series of articles that criticized the governor.  He was charged with libel, or publishing statements that damage a person’s reputation.  English law punished writings that criticized the government-even if the statements were true.  Zenger’s lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, argued that Zenger writings were based on fact, and should not be considered libel.  The jury agreed, and Zenger was found not guilty of libel.  Freedom on the Press declared that the press has to right and responsibility to keep the public informed of the truth.

Regulating Trade  1651: English Parliament passed the Navigation Acts  Shipments from Europe to English colonies had to go through England first.  Any imports to England from the colonies had to come in ships built and owned by British subjects.  Colonies could sell key products such as tobacco and sugar, only to England. This helped create jobs for English workers.  Benefits to Colonies: sure market for their goods and contributed to shipbuilding industry in New England.  Why colonists resented the Acts: they felt laws favored English merchants.  Colonists felt they could make more money selling to foreign markets.  Some colonists got around the Navigation Acts by smuggling.