Learn History
To Know Who You Are and who you want to be
Slaves and Free Blacks in the Colonies
- Neither could vote
Other Influences
- European Enlightenment philosophers Montesquieu and Locke greatly influenced colonial leaders with their ideas about freedom and Rights
- Enlightenment was a shift to thinking about freedom and rights as well as science and reasoning
- William Penn also created a colonial legislature which limited the government in Pennsylvania
- All 13 colonies develop their own governments
- All are self governing
- All are representative governments
- All Write constitutions
- These are the Foundations of American Government Today
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
- 1639
- Rule of Law for CT
- Writing of it directly influenced by Thomas Hooker
- First Constitution in the New World
Virginia House of Burgesses
- 1619
- Members were elected by the people
- First representative government in the new world
Mayflower Compact
- 1620
- Agreement among Pilgrim men
- Established self government
- Not a Constitution
English Tradition
- Wanted colonies to be like England
- Far away difficult to control
- Develop their own culture and identity
- Salutary Neglect - King and Parliament ignored the colonies and allowed them to do their own thing
- Royal Governors reported to Monarch
- Allowed to create own self government
English Treatment of the Colonies
- Were English citizens but had no representation in Parliament
Does it matter
- The King still has the ultimate authority
English Bill of Rights
- 1689
- Gave more power to Parliament
English Documents
- Influenced Colonial Government
Magna Carta
- 1215
- Gave basic rights to free English citizens
- Included idea of Trial by Jury
Citizens
- Only power is to vote for Parliament members or run to be one (only wealthy white men)
Parliament
- Elected officials who represent the people and make laws
- A Representative government system that the colonists were used to
He is... the most interesting King in the World.
English Government
- Controlled by a Monarch (King or Queen)
- Has ultimate authority
- Uses military to enforce law