The Origins of Early The Origins of Early Government in the ColoniesGovernment in the Colonies

Magna Carta

The Mayflower Compact

The Virginia House of Burgesses

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Declaration of Rights, 1689

The Signing of the Magna Carta, 1215The Signing of the Magna Carta, 1215

The Magna Carta, 1215The 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

The Magna CartaThe 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.

Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619

Virginia House of BurgessesVirginia 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.

Signing of the Mayflower CompactSigning of the Mayflower Compact

Mayflower Compact, 1620Mayflower 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.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 16391639

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 16391639

• 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.

Colonial GovernmentColonial 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

James IIJames 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

The Glorious RevolutionThe 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

English Bill of Rights, 1689English 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

Colonial GovernmentColonial 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

Freedom of the PressFreedom 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

Colonial GovernmentColonial 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.