Download Government in the Colonies

Government in the
Colonies
Early English Government
Colonial Government Limitations

By colonial times,
England was in the
process of developing
into a constitutional
monarchy



The monarch (king or
queen) governed under
rules established by law
English people
(including colonists) had
rights protected by
English law.
Laws & taxes were made
by Parliament (qualified
voters* elected the lower
house & nobles inherited
seats in the upper house

*Qualified voters were






Free (not slaves or
indentured servants)
White (English)
Males
Age 21 or over
Property owners (approx.
50 acres of land or the
equivalent in businesses,
ships, buildings, etc. )
Members of the
established church

American colonists:



Voted for the local colonial
legislatures (but had no
reps in English Parliament)
Colonial legislatures decided
local taxes and voting
qualifications (amount of
property and required
church membership varied
somewhat by colony)
English Parliament also had
right to veto or overrule any
laws passed by colonial
legislatures.
Foundations for American
Democracy


Magna Carta1215
Virginia House of
Burgesses 1619


Established the ideas
that all men should be
granted certain rights,
the king had limits to his
power, and not all power
in the gov. was given to
the king.* JURY TRIAL*
Established idea that
people should have
some say in the way
they are governed.



Mayflower Compact 1620
Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut 1639
English Bill of Rights 1689



Established idea that
people could form their
own gov’t. for the good
of all
1st written constitution
establishing idea that
people have power to
create their own gov’t.
Reaffirmed idea people
have rights and power of
king has limits.
Principles

Individual Rights


Limited Government


Separation of Power

People have basic rights
the gov. cannot take
away
Gov is not all powerful;
members of gov. must
follow the law
Not all of the power of
gov. is given to one
individual or group, the
power is separated to
help prevent abuses of
power


Republicanism
Popular Sovereignty


Gov. is run by
ELECTED
representatives
(‘reps’ of the public)
The people rule; the
power of gov. comes
from the people