1. The beginning of The United States of America’s government

2. Imagine… All of MSD’s students move to an island. There are no adults.
There are little kids, 3 years old, and older kids 19 years old, and everyone in between.
How would you make sure everyone was taken care of?
How would you make sure no one hurt each other?

3. First to America… Arrived in Jamestown, Virginia 1607
Were workers for the London Company
The workers became unhappy, they were being bossed around
The owner of the company picked a governor for the workers
The governor had complete power

4. Virginia cont.…
Later, the London Company let the workers elect men from each district (area) to be in a governing body (government group)
House of Burgesses – the governing body in Virginia
First meeting – July 1619

5. The Pilgrims Government
Arrived in Massachusetts
Were not under the London Company
Were under England’s king
Before they went on land, they wrote a contract that was their plan for their own government
The pilgrims promised to join together to make their government good and help people

6. The Pilgrims Compact
Called “The Mayflower Compact”

7. The Mayflower Compact
The pilgrims promised to join together to make their government good and help people
They promised to make laws
They promised to pick leaders
They promised to obey (follow) the laws and the leaders

8. Massachusetts More towns in Massachusetts Each man voted on everything
Direct Democracy

9. Religious Freedom
Pilgrims came to North America to make their own church

10. More Religious Rules
Rules in Massachusetts said that there could be only one kind of church

11. Real Religious Freedom
Not everyone liked this rule and left Massachusetts and set up two new colonies:
Rhode Island
Connecticut

12. Starting a Colony – Starting a Government
Charters started each colony
– the charter was signed by
England’s king
Charters let the people have
freedom to govern (control)
themselves
Charters let the people make
their own laws

13. Starting a Colony – Starting a Government
Each town elected leaders and representatives
People elected governors and judges

14. The First Constitutions
Rhode Island and Connecticut wrote their own constitutions

15. The First Constitutions
The constitutions listed the powers the government could have
The constitutions listed the political rights of people