1. Colonial
America
Government & Politics
Colonial America,

2. British
Colonial Policy

3. Different Types of Colonies
Charter Colonies (Connecticut, Rhode Island)
1. Established by settlers who had been given a charter by the King.
Proprietary Colonies (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania)
2. Person or Group given land by Britain, free to rule as they wished.
Royal Colonies (Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia).
3. Britain directly ruled all royal colonies. The King appointed the governor.

4. British Colonial Policy Copy of British Form of Government
The Governor.
1. appointed by the King or the proprietor
2. Financially dependent not on the King, but on the colonists.
B. The Colonial Assemblies.
Served as advisors to governor.
Legislators pursued their own interests.
William Bradford,
2nd Governor of Massachusetts

5. British Colonial Policy Copy of British Form of Government
Colonists think of themselves as Englishmen.
1. King and Governor treated each situation as it arose.
2. Parliamentary legislation applied to entire British Empire.
Parliament believed that it represented all people.
No elected representatives from colonies.
Virtual vs. actual representation
3. No true centralized government in colonies.
Colonies worked independent of the others.

6. British Colonial Policy Forms of Participation
A. Most common form of government
1. Colonial Assembly
Virginia House of Burgesses
2. Townhall Meeting
New England
Democracy in its purest form.
Church members met to elect their officials and attend civic issues

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

8. I. The Signing of the Magna Carta, 1215

9. I. The Magna Carta, 1215
King John, constantly demanded money and men for wars
In 1215 forced King John forced to agree that he had “no right” to demand property without ppl’s consent.
King must now get consent of the people
King is bound by a higher law that limits his authority.

10. II. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619

11. Virginia House of Burgesses
1619 the first representative government appears in Virginia.
imposed taxes, made laws, ran the colony
modeled after the English Parliament.

12. III. Signing of the Mayflower Compact

13. Mayflower Compact, 1620
1620, Pilgrims write a contract that allows for self-government.
The Mayflower Compact promised that every adult male would vote for the Governor and his advisors on a yearly basis.
It supports the idea of representative gov’t.

14. IV. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639

15. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639
First written constitution in North America.
It was an outline for self-government of the colony.
Adult males elected a governor, assistants, and a legislative assembly to make laws for the community.

16. English Bill of Rights, 1689 King James II (1685-1688) “Divine Rights”
William & Mary agree to give Parliament and people more power than the monarchs after the Glorious Revolution:
Parliament agrees on laws not the king
Parliament raise taxes
Parliament okays the raising of an army
Parliament and public have free speech against the government
Trial by jury
Elections and debates
King James II ( )
“Divine Rights”
belief that the king was God’s choice to rule on earth
A monarch has absolute power over his nation
A monarch passed laws without the peoples consent or input
Parliament takes away many powers from the monarchy
Glorious because no one died in battle and Revolution because the English overthrow the last Catholic monarch

17. Main Themes of Colonies
Neglect
Legislatures
The various colonial legislatures considered themselves a parliament for the colonies.
Self-government is a tough thing to give up once it is experienced.
- Moving out of parents house and then moving back in
Colonies were largely neglected and left alone by Britain due to other concerns at home.
Allowed colonies to develop at their own pace

18. Colonial Government (Recap)
Colonial governments like the House of Burgesses elect their own representatives
Representatives made laws, imposed taxes, fines and managed colonial affairs
Colonists believe they are Englishmen and should have a say in their government