The First American Colonies : Charter, Proprietary and Crown Michael D. Berdine, Ph.D. Pima Community College Tucson, Arizona

The “Original Colonies” Charter Colonies There were three types of colonies that existed in the British Empire during its height: –Charter colony –Proprietary colony –Crown, or royal colony Charter colonies were promoted through free enterprise under charters from the Crown. Generally, they were established by groups of settlers who were granted charters by the king.

The “Original Colonies” Charter Colonies A chartered company is an association formed by investors or shareholders for the purpose of trade, exploration and colonialization. Typically, these companies were formed in the 16 th century and on by groups of European investors. They underwrote ventures to profit from the exploration of Africa, India, the Caribbean and North America, usually under the patronage of the state, which issued the company’s charter.

The “Original Colonies” Charter Colonies Chartered companies were usually formed and legitimized under a royal charter. This document set out the terms under which the company could trade. It also defined its boundaries of influence, and described its rights and responsibilities

The “Original Colonies” Charter Colonies Charter colonies had more control over their own affairs than did the other types of colonies. The others – proprietary and royal colonies – were ruled more directly by the British. Charter companies were founded variously by trading companies, by lords proprietors, and by squatters later incorporated.

The “Original Colonies” Charter Colonies Charter colonies for the most part either disappeared or changed their status early. The Virginia Colony lost its charter in 1624, and the Plymouth Colony surrendered its patent (charter) in 1635). The Massachusetts Bay Colony became a theocracy, and Connecticut and Rhode Island were squatter colonies founded by dissenters from Massachusetts.

The “Original Colonies” Proprietary Colonies The predominating type of colony throughout the 17 th century was the proprietary colony. All colonies ultimately had a governor, council and house of representatives. Some of the latter were chosen by the company, or Lords Proprietor, and in the corporation colonies, by the people.

The “Original Colonies” Crown Colonies Several colonies were royalized, with the colony ruled by the King or Queen of England and its appointed governors. These Royal, or “Crown Colonies,” were controlled by the king, who named a governor to each colony and a council to assist him. The Crown was responsible for appointing colonial judges, usually for life.

The “Original Colonies” Crown Colonies The Crown controlled all unsold land public lands, and the royal governor retained the power to disperse these lands. In Crown colonies, like charter and proprietary governments, the assembly was popularly elected according to various definitions of franchise. Though the governor and his council theoretically controlled appropriations and expenditures, in reality colonial assemblies undermined the power over time.

The “Original Colonies” Crown Colonies By 1720, most colonial assemblies had wrestled from the governor the power to initiate legislation. This included laws governing taxation and the management of colonial revenue. With the exception of Georgia, most royal governors depended upon the assemblies for financial support.

The “Original Colonies” Crown Colonies By the 18 th century, royal colonies became the standard form of colonial government. The governors themselves now began to lodge complaints with the Crown that the assemblies had way too much power as governing bodies. They reported that the assemblies were more inclined to reflect the will of the electorate rather than that of the king.

The “Original Colonies” Crown Colonies An Act of Parliament in 1767 attempted to diffuse some of the financial control of colonial assemblies. It made colonial governors, councils, and judges independent of the assemblies; thereafter, they were paid directly from colonial revenue. Additionally, laws passed by colonial assemblies had to be approved by both the governor and the Board of Trade in England.

The “Original Colonies” Crown Colonies With the exception of New York and several Caribbean islands, a majority of England’s 17 th century American colonies were corporate. Between settlement and the American Revolution, however, the royal colony became the standard form of colonial government. By 1775, only Pennsylvania and Maryland retained their proprietary status.