1. The Origins of Early Government in the Colonies
Magna Carta, 1215
The Mayflower Compact, 1620
The Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639
English Bill of Rights, 1689

2. The Signing of the Magna Carta, 1215

3. The 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 to agree 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

4. The Magna Carta, 1215 Two important aspects of the Magna Carta:
there must be a set of laws governing 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 (rule of law)

5. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619

6. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619
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.

7. Signing of the Mayflower Compact

8. Mayflower 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.

9. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639

10. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639
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.

11. Colonial Government
Colonial governments like the House of Burgesses elected their own representatives
Representatives imposed taxes, fines and managed colonial affairs
Colonists believed they were Englishmen and should have a say in their government
Colonists were used to running their governments on their own, the English let the colonies get used to this (salutary neglect)

12. English Bill of Rights, 1689
Monarchs William of Orange and Mary agree to give Parliament and people more power than monarchs under English Bill of Rights:
Parliament agrees on laws not the king
Parliament can raise taxes
Parliament okays the raising of an army
Parliament and public have free speech against the government
Trial by jury
Elections and debates

13. Colonial 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