1. Governing the Colonies

2. English Parliamentary Tradition
Magna Carta
1215 English nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta
First document to place restrictions on an English ruler’s power
Limited monarch’s right to levy taxes without consulting the nobles
Protected right to own private property
Guaranteed right to trial by jury

3. English Parliamentary Tradition
Under Magna Carta nobles formed a Great Council to advise the king
Developed into the English Parliament
Two house legislature: a group of people who have the power to make laws
House of Lords- made up of nobles
House of Commons- elected

4. English Parliamentary Traditions
Greatest power was to approve new taxes
“Power of the purse” gave Parliament a degree of control over the monarch
Even after power struggles with the monarchs, Parliament retain: to keep, it’s traditional rights

5. English Parliamentary Tradition
English Bill of Rights
1688 Parliament removed King James II from throne and invited his daughter Mary and her husband to rule England
Glorious Revolution
They signed the English Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights: a written list of freedoms that a government promises to protect
Stated many of the rights granted by Magna Carta
Habeas Corpus: a person can not be held in prison without being charged with a specific crime

6. Colonial Self Government
Colonial Legislatures
House of Burgesses: Virginia
General Court: Massachusetts
General Assembly: Pennsylvania
By 1760 every British colony in North America had a legislature of some kind
50-75% of white males in the American colonies could vote