1. Roots of Self-Government The Thirteen English Colonies, 1630–1750
The American Nation
Chapter 4 – Section 4
Roots of Self-Government
The Thirteen English Colonies, 1630–1750
Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

2. Roots of Self-Government
Chapter 4, Section 4
Objectives to learn:
Why did England want to regulate colonial trade?
What were colonial governments like?
How were the liberties of the colonists limited?

3. I. England Regulated Colonial Trade
Chapter 4, Section 4
A. England believed in an economic theory called mercantilism, which said:
1. A nation became strong by strictly controlling its trade.
2. A country should export more than it imported.
a. Exports - goods sent to markets outside a country
b. Imports goods brought into a country Colonists were encouraged to build their own ships.

4. I. England Regulated Colonial Trade
B. To enforce mercantilism, England passed the Navigation Acts in the 1650s - Laws that regulated trade between England and the colonies so that England benefited.
1. Only colonial or English ships could carry goods to and from the colonies.
2. Colonial merchants could ship goods such as tobacco and cotton only to England.

5. I. England Regulated Colonial Trade – Trade in Rum and Slaves
Chapter 4, Section 4
Yankees — a nickname for New England traders—dominated colonial trade.
Colonial merchants developed many trade routes. One route was known as the triangular trade
Colonial merchants sometimes defied the Navigation Acts by buying goods from the Dutch, French, and Spanish West Indies.

6. The Triangular Trade (2:24)

7. II. What Colonial Governments Were Like
Chapter 4, Section 4
Part of Government
How Chosen
What They Did
Governor
appointed by the king or by the colony’s proprietor
directed the colony’s affairs and enforced laws
Legislature
upper house—a group of advisers appointed by the governor
lower house—an elected assembly
people who had the power to make laws
made laws
approved laws; protected the rights of citizens; approved taxes

8. Colonial Governments (:30)

9. III. Rights Under Colonial Governments
Chapter 4, Section 4
Colonists had rights as English Subjects.
1688 In the Glorious Revolution, Parliament replaced King James II with William and Mary from the Netherlands to rule.
1689 William and Mary signed the English Bill of Rights. (bill of rights - a written list of freedoms the government promised to protect)
1. Protected rights of individuals
2. Guaranteed right to trial by jury
3. Said the ruler could not raise taxes or army without approval of Parliament
Some colonists had the right to vote:
1. White Christian men over the age of 21 who owned property
2. In some colonies, only members of a particular church

10. IV. Limits on Liberties of Colonists
Chapter 4, Section 4
Women had fewer rights than free, white males.
Married women had fewer rights than unmarried women and widows.
Africans had almost no rights.
Native Americans had almost no rights.

11. Colonial Life Under British Rule (4:36)

12. Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 4, Section 4
England passed the Navigation Acts to see to it that
a) colonial merchants would become wealthy.
b) only England benefited from colonial trade.
c) England would import more than it exported.
d) colonial merchants had to compete with foreign merchants.
Colonial legislatures included an assembly elected by
a) Christian white men over 21 who owned property.
b) all colonists who owned property.
c) married Christian men and women.
d) all colonists who went to church.
Want to connect to the American History link for this section? Click here.

13. Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 4, Section 4
England passed the Navigation Acts to see to it that
a) colonial merchants would become wealthy.
b) only England benefited from colonial trade.
c) England would import more than it exported.
d) colonial merchants had to compete with foreign merchants.
Colonial legislatures included an assembly elected by
a) Christian white men over 21 who owned property.
b) all colonists who owned property.
c) married Christian men and women.
d) all colonists who went to church.
Want to connect to the American History link for this section? Click here.