ESSENTIAL QUESTION:“TO WHAT EXTENT

HAD THE AMERICAN COLONIES DEVELOPED A DEMOCRATIC

SOCIETY BY THE EVE OF THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTION?”

Democratic Developments in

Colonial America1

A. 1619: Formation of the Virginia House of

Burgesses 1. First representative assembly in

America 2. Twenty-two original burgesses;

governor had veto power

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B. 1620: Mayflower Compact 1. First agreement establishing self-

government 2. Freemen agreed to majority rule

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C. After 1629, New England Townhall Meeting 1. Church members discussed political

and community issues 2. Majority rule

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D. Colonial Assemblies: 1. Lower house gradually gained

political influence 2. Governors had difficulty ruling

without the support of assemblies

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E. 1639: Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1. first written constitution in America

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F. 1643: New England Confederation 1. Connecticut, New Haven, Plymouth,

and Massachusetts formed an organization

for collective security against Indian

attacks. 2. Important step in creating more unity

among New England colonies

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G. 1649: Maryland Act of Toleration 1. Guaranteed religious freedom to all

Christians

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H. 1676: Bacon’s Rebellion 1. Western Virginia farmers revolted against eastern

government 2. First of several major rebellions where common

people are fighting for a more responsive government

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I. 1683: New York Charter of Liberties 1. Granted freedom of religion to all

Christians and gave all landowners the right to

vote 2. Created to attract more settlers to

New York

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http://www.montauk.com/history/seeds/charter.htm

J. 1691: (Jacob) Leisler’s Rebellion 1. Rebellion of frustrated poor people and

farmers 2. Protested huge land grants favoring

wealthy landholders and speculators 3. Common people left with few

opportunities to own land

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K. 1735: Zenger Case 1. John Peter Zenger found innocent of

libel by colonial jury 2. Charges involved N.Y. governor 3. Important first step toward freedom of

the press

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L. 1754: Albany Plan of Union 1. proposed by Benjamin Franklin 2. goal to create an inter-colonial

congress 3. rejected by Britain: too much control

to colonies 4. rejected by colonies: feared an

oppressive colonial congress

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M. 1764: Paxton Boys 1. Western Pennsylvanians (Scots Irish) 2. Believed government not doing

enough to protect them from Native American

attacks

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N. 1771: Carolina Regulator Movement 1. Frustrated poor people from western

North Carolina 2. Rebelled against colonial government

(similar to Bacon’s Rebellion and Leisler’s

Rebellion)

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O. 1713 – 1763: “Salutary Neglect” 1. Colonies enjoyed relative autonomy

from British rule 2. Colonials became used to regulating

their own political and economic affairs (such

as triangular trade) without British

interference 3. Britain tries to re-impose control in

1763 → the road to revolution began

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P. 1740s: Great Awakening 1. Colonials enjoyed much choice

regarding religious groups 2. Churches increasingly cater to needs

of parishioners 3. Seen as an important democratic step

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Q. 1720s to 1790s: The Enlightenment 1. Colonial political thought influenced

by: a. Locke’s natural rights

philosophy (including consent of the

governed) and b. Montesquieu’s views on checks

and balances

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