Government Develops in the Colonies

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.