1. American colonists developed a tradition of liberty based on self-government, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press.

2. What did you learn about religion and government in the American colonies?

3. Social Studies Standard 8.1.4: Describe the nation’s blend of civil republicanism, classical liberal principals, and English parliamentary traditions. Social Studies Standard 8.3.7: Understand the functions and responsibilities of a free press. Social Studies Standard 8.1.1: Describe the relationship between the moral and political ideas of the Great Awakening and the development of revolutionary fervor.

4. town meeting: a gathering in which residents meet to make decisions for the community. freedom of the press: the right of newspapers and other public media to publish articles believed to be accurate. libel: the publishing of statements that damage a person’s reputation.

5. Self-Government in the Colonies Although they recognized the authority of the British monarch, the American colonists developed a tradition of self-government. House of Burgesses:  England’s first American colony, Jamestown, was allowed to set up a form of representative government called the House of Burgesses. Mayflower Compact:  The Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to make laws for the good of Plymouth Colony.

6. Self-Government in the Colonies Governing A Colony As colonies grew in size, a need for a more complex structure developed. Each colony had a governor appointed by the king or by the proprietor of the colony. Each colony had a legislature similar to the English Parliament, made up of two houses. The upper house was appointed by the governor. The lower house was an assembly elected by the colonists. Voters had to be white, male, Christian, property owners that were over the age of 21.

7. The Great Awakening The Great Awakening was a period of religious revival that swept through the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. Religion played an important role in the development of the 13 colonies. By the 1700s, religious restrictions had eased in many of the colonies. Churches still remained centers of faith and community life. Leaders such as Massachusetts preacher Jonathan Edwards and English minister George Whitefield called on sinners to reform and spread the ideas of the Great Awakening.

8. The Great Awakening  The Great Awakening was a period of religious revival that swept through the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. The Great Awakening led to the rise of many new organized churches, which increased tolerance of religious differences. It affected the way people viewed their political rights and their governments. People realized they could decide how to govern themselves.

9. Freedom of the Press John Peter Zenger’s acquittal established freedom of the press in the colonies. Zenger was publisher of the Weekly Journal, a newspaper in New York City. He was arrested for printing a series of negative articles about the governor in 1734. Zenger’s lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, argued that since Zenger had made true statements, he could not convicted for libel (freedom of the press). Zenger was found not guilty. This established the important principle that a democracy depends on well-informed citizens.

10. What was the period of religious revival in the 1730’s and 1740’s? The Great Awakening Why was John Peter Zenger found not guilty of libel? What he published was true.