The Earliest Colony  What was the first permanent English colony in the New World? When was it founded?  Answer: Jamestown was founded in  For a time, the colony was run like a military outpost.  The settlers woke to the sound of a drum, summoning them to work.  Harsh laws imposed the death penalty for the smallest offenses, like stealing an ear of corn.  As John Smith commented after his return to England, “No man will go…to have less freedom there as here.”  Jamestown needed a change.

Reforms in Jamestown  In order to attract more settlers, the Virginia Company took steps to establish a more stable government.  The male settlers were allowed to elect burgesses. The burgesses met in an assembly called the House of Burgesses.  Together, with the governor and his council, they made laws for the colony.  The House of Burgesses marked the beginning of representative government in the English colonies.

Question: If Virginia was an English colony, why didn’t Parliament establish laws for the colony?

Government & English Traditions  The idea that the people have political rights was deeply rooted in English history.  In 1215, English nobles had forced King John to sign the Magna Carta or Great Charter.  This document said that the king could not raise taxes without first consulting a Great Council of nobles and church leaders.  Over time, the rights won by nobles were extended to other people.  The Great Council grew into a representative assembly, called Parliament. Although only rich men were allowed to vote, the English had established the principle that even Kings had to obey the law.

Virginia’s Representative Tradition  At first, free Virginians had even greater rights than citizens in England.  They did not have to own property to vote.  Later, however, voting rights were restricted to free, white, male property owners.  Despite this, a tradition of representative government had been established in the English colonies. Colonists believed that they should have some say in the affairs of the colony.  They would later fight a great war over this idea!

The Pilgrims & Government  What was the first thing the Pilgrims did before they even got off of the Mayflower?  A plan for government where the colonists elected representatives to make laws “for the good of the colony.”  What were the stated aims of the Compact?

Pilgrims & Religion  Why did Pilgrims want to leave England and come to the New World?  Once the Pilgrims established their colonies, they worked to ensure that everyone could worship as they pleased.

More Examples of Representative Government in the Colonies…  The General Court in the Puritan colony of Massachusetts.  Elected church members could vote on laws for the colony.

 Who established the colony of Connecticut?  When Thomas Hooker left Massachusetts, he founded the colony of Connecticut.  He created the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.  According to the Orders, all men had the right to vote and did not have to belong to any specific church.

 Who established the colony of Rhode Island?  Roger Williams also left the Puritans and founded the colony of Rhode Island. Here, he allowed all men the right to vote and set up a representative assembly to make laws. He also allowed all people to worship freely.  Rhode Island was a very popular place to live!

 Who set up the colony of Pennsylvania?  Which religious group did he belong to?  William Penn of the Quakers set up Pennsylvania, where anyone could worship freely and everyone was treated as an equal, even women and Native Americans.

 Who established the colony of Maryland?  ANSWER: Lord Baltimore set up Maryland and created an Elected Assembly. He also practiced religious tolerance in his colony.

Think About It…  What are some of the principles on which representative government was founded in the “New World”?  Answer: elected representatives, religious freedom and tolerance  We are going to see these principles reflected in how our current government was created.