1. Government Develops in the Colonies
Pg 38-44

2. Royal control over the colonies
Charter-issued by the king to people who wanted to establish a colony
Earliest colonies were established by trading companies.
Most Southern and Middle colonies were granted to relatives or friends of the king
People starting colonies were limited only by the terms of the charter and their obligations to the king
King could take back a charter. Most colonies became royal colonies as the king took back the charters

3. Governor and council
All colonies had a governor, a council of advisers, and a court system.
Colonies differed in the way these officials were chosen.
Most governors were appointed by the king or had the king’s approval
Governor chose his own council
They represented British authority

4. Representative assemblies
Colonists claimed the right to choose elected assemblies or legislatures
First colonial assembly was in Virginia Colony-House of Burgesses
When king revoked the Virginia Colony charter he allowed the assembly to stay

5. Representation (cont.)
Mayflower compact was an example of self-government
Set forth a government that would make just and equal laws for the good of the colony
Chose a governor from among the colonists
An assembly was set up in nearly every colony with elected members

6. Rhode Island
Est. by settlers who left Massachusetts Bay Colony - religious reasons
No proprietor-elected its own governor and assemblies
King allowed this in the charter he issued
King could not overturn the actions of the assembly-unusual provision

7. Connecticut
Organized under the first written constitution in America-Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
also left Mass. Bay
Governor and court officials were elected
Charter from king let them keep the rights listed in their constitution

8. Freedom in the colonies
Americans had great freedom in governing themselves at first
3 reasons colonies had power
colonial legislators had the backing of public opinion
following the tradition set by Parliament, the assemblies claimed the right to set the governor’s salary and impose local taxes
colonial assemblies generally had their way because the British government’s colonial policies allowed them to do so

9. Salutary neglect British had 3 reasons for colonies
to provide a market for British goods
to provide raw material to Britain
to be loyal to the crown
British basically left the colonist alone partly because of the distance
Colonists were loyal in most matters
Crown provided them with protection

10. Change between Britain and colonies
Relation changed suddenly in 1760’s
French and Indian War led to the change
Ran up large debt and British subjects felt colonists should help pay for it
King decided to have colonies carry a large part of the cost by passing trade acts

11. Stamp Act
Tax on all printed material, including newspapers, merchants’ bills legal documents, and even playing cards
Colonists said only their elected representatives could enact taxes
Taxation without representation- was the cry
colonists petitioned the king and started a ban on British goods
King repealed the Stamp Act

12. New Taxes and protests
Townshend Acts- taxed such items as paper, window glass, paint and tea
King sent troops to try to enforce the act
Boston Massacre was result
Parliament repealed all the taxes except the tea tax
Colonists lifted the ban on British goods

13. Colonial Resistance
Committees of correspondence was organized to oppose British policies
Tea Act passed giving East Indian Company an advantage over colonial merchants
Boston Tea Party was the result - colonist dumped tea over board in Boston Harbor
Shocked everyone in most colonists

14. Intolerable Acts
Passed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party-increased colonial resentment and unified the colonists
closed the port of Boston
limited self-gov’t in Mass. Colony
Quartering Act- ordered colonists to house soldiers in their homes
Convention was called to discuss what to do

15. First Continental Congress
Representatives from every colony met in Philadelphia to decide what to do
Did 3 things
Declaration of Rights - stated rights and liberties colonists expected
Continental Association-organized ban on British imports
Were to meet again in May if Parliament had not answered the complaint satisfactorily.