1. 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

2. The Signing of the Magna Carta, 1215

3. The Magna Carta, 1215
King John, an English King constantly demanded money and men for wars from his feudal barons.
The feudal barons in 1215 forced King John agrees that he had “no right” to demand their property without their consent. Their consent was to be agreed upon in a grand council.
King must now get consent of the people

4. The Magna Carta Two important aspects of the Magna Carta:
there must be a set of laws governing (precedents) 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.

5. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619

6. Virginia House of Burgesses
1619 the first elected representative government appears in Virginia.
House of Burgesses imposed taxes and ran the colony
It is modeled after the English Parliament.
English Parliament was England’s lawmaking elected government.

7. Signing of the Mayflower Compact

8. Mayflower Compact, 1620
1620, Pilgrims arriving near the New England Coast agree to 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 majority rule.

9. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639

10. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639
First written constitution in North America. It was the work of a Puritan clergyman, Thomas Hooker.
It was a outline for self-government of the colony. The well being of the community came before the individual.
Adult males elected a governor, assistants, and a legislative assembly to make laws for the community.

11. Colonial Government
Colonial governments like the House of Burgesses elect their own representatives
Representatives impose taxes, fines and managed colonial affairs
Colonists believe they are Englishmen and should have a say in their government
Colonists are used to running their governments on their own, the English have let the colonies get used to this

12. 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 appoints government officials who answer to him not the people
A monarch passed laws without the peoples consent or input

13. The Glorious Revolution
Glorious because no one died in battle and Revolution because the English overthrow the last Catholic monarch
Parliament takes away many powers from the monarchy
Monarchs William of Orange and Mary agree to give Parliament more power

14. English Bill of Rights, 1689
Monarchs William of Orange and Mary agree to give Parliament and people have more power under Bills of rights than the monarchs:
Parliament agrees on laws not the king
Raise taxes
Parliament okays the raising of an army
Parliament and public have free speech against the government
Trial by jury
Elections and debates

15. 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

16. Freedom of the Press John Peter Zenger Trial, 1735
Arrested for exposing governor’s corruption in his paper
Charged with seditious libel
Wins freedom of press and papers will begin to address political issues

17. Colonial Government
What important English Rights did the colonist gain from the following dates. 1215, 1689, 1735?
What is a representative government?
Who had more power in the colonial government system. The king, governor or the assemblies?
Compare and contrast a monarchy and a representative government.
Create an illustrated time line on representative government in colonial America.