Download Enrichment Self Government in the English Colonies

US History/Napp
Self-Government in the English Colonies
Name: _________________
Historical Context:
“Beginning in Virginia in 1619 with the establishment of the House of Burgesses, forms of
self-government eventually spread to most American colonies. Slowly the colonists built up
a structure of rights and freedoms, drawn in part from English tradition. Among the most
important freedoms were freedom of religion and freedom of the press. Many of the rights
that we take for granted today, however, were absent in the colonies. Blacks could be held
in slavery, and women lacked many basic rights.” ~ USA Readings, Documents, and
Activities
History through Documents:
The Mayflower Compact
“The American colonists tended to see government as a compact (agreement) between
people and their leaders. Those who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 agreed to establish a
government and obey its rules. The people of the Mayflower considered such a formal
agreement to be necessary in order to help maintain law and order. The passage below is
adapted from the Mayflower Compact.”
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are signed below, are loyal subjects of
King James.
For the glory of God, advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and
country, we have undertaken a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of
Virginia. In the presence of God and of one another, we do solemnly combine ourselves
together into a political body – a civil body politic. We do this to maintain order and to
preserve and advance our mutual goals. By virtue of this compact we shall enact such just
and equal laws as shall be thought necessary and convenient for the general good of the
colony. We promise all due submission and obedience to the colony. In witness of this, we
have written our names below, at Cape Cod, 11th of November, in the Year of our Lord
1620.”
Source: The Annals of America (Chicago, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1968), Vol. 1, p. 64
Questions:
1- When and where was the Mayflower Compact signed?
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2- According to the document, what religion did the travelers on the Mayflower follow?
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3- Which colony was mentioned in the document?
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4- What reasons did they give for forming a political body?
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5- Did the signers think that they were breaking their bonds with England?
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6- Why is this document significant? What is it suggesting about government and
people? ___________________________________________________________________
Crossword Puzzle:
Do You Remember the Magna Carta?
List five facts about the Magna Carta.
On the following page, you will see if you are correct!
1- ________________________________________________________________________
2- ________________________________________________________________________
3- ________________________________________________________________________
4- ________________________________________________________________________
5- ________________________________________________________________________
The Magna Carta:
“The rule of law has its basis in Magna Carta. This concept, fundamental to democratic
forms of government, asserts that all – including a king, prime minister, or president –
must abide by the laws of the nation. While Magna Carta does not specifically state that the
king is subject to the rule of law, the provisions of this document establish that principle by
imposing limits on the king’s power. The fact that the barons are given the authority to
enforce this document in Chapter 61 of the original version reinforces the principle that the
king could no longer ignore or violate established laws, traditions, or customs, nor could he
arbitrarily infringe on the rights of his subjects. In short, the king would be compelled to
abide by the rule of law.
The Magna Carta is not a carefully crafted constitution, or framework of government,
like the U.S. Constitution. Rather, it addresses the principal grievances of the barons,
merchants, and church officials through a set of rules designed to both restrict the power of
the king and protect the liberties of Englishmen, Scots, and Welshmen.”
~ edsitement.neh.gov/sites/edsitement.neh.gov
Now, that you have read this excerpt, recreate your original list summarizing the main
facts regarding the Magna Carta:
1- _______________________________________________________________________
2- _______________________________________________________________________
3- _______________________________________________________________________
4- _______________________________________________________________________
5- _______________________________________________________________________
Another Point of View:
What is the main idea of the political cartoon?
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History through Pictures: Imperfect Democracy
The two pictures below show aspects of life in the English colonies of North America.
Examine the pictures and then answer the questions that follow.
I. New England Town Meeting
II.
Chesapeake Tobacco Grower
Questions:
1- For picture I, what group or groups seem to have been excluded from New England
town meetings in the 18th century?
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2- For picture II, what is the relationship between the Chesapeake tobacco grower and
his laborers?
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3- What evidence can you find in the two pictures to support the argument that
democracy in the English colonies was not perfect?
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1. In the Colonial Era, developments
such as the New England town
meetings and the establishment of the
Virginia House of Burgesses
represented
(1) colonial attempts to build a
strong national government
(2) efforts by the British to
strengthen their control over the
colonies
(3) steps in the growth of
representative democracy
(4) early social reform movements
2. According to the Declaration of
Independence, the people have the
right to alter or abolish a
government if that government
(1) is a limited monarchy
(2) violates natural rights
(3) becomes involved in entangling
alliances
(4) favors one religion over another
3. The Mayflower Compact is
important to the concept of a
democratic society because it
represents
(1) an effort by the colonists to use
force to resist the King
(2) a clear step toward selfgovernment
(3) an early attempt to establish
universal suffrage
(4) an attempt by the colonists to
establish freedom of religion
4. The British system of mercantilism
was opposed by many American
colonists because it
(1) placed quotas on immigration
(2) discouraged the export of raw
materials to England
(3) placed restrictions on trading
(4) encouraged colonial
manufacturing
5. The Mayflower Compact, House of
Burgesses, and Fundamental Orders
of Connecticut are all examples of
the efforts of colonial Americans to
(1) use democratic practices in
government
(2) protest British land policies
(3) establish religious freedom
(4) overthrow British royal
governors
6. The Mayflower Compact of 1620 is
considered an important step in the
development of democracy in
America because it
(1) expressed the importance of selfgovernment
(2) established freedom of religion
(3) created the first colonial judiciary
(4) granted all males the right to vote
7. The Virginia House of Burgesses was
important to the development of
democracy in the thirteen colonies
because it
(1) provided an example of a
representative form of
government
(2) created the first written
constitution in America
(3) provided for direct election of
senators
(4) began the practice of legislative
override of executive vetoes
8. The Mayflower Compact and the
House of Burgesses were important
to the development of democracy in
colonial America because they
(1) expanded freedom of religion
(2) promoted self-government
(3) protected private ownership of
property
(4) granted voting rights to all white
males
House of Burgesses:
“In April, 1619, Governor George Yeardley arrived in Virginia from England and
announced that the Virginia Company had voted to abolish martial law and create a
legislative assembly. It became the House of Burgesses – the first legislative assembly in the
American colonies. The first assembly met on July 30, 1619, in the church at Jamestown.
Present were Governor Yeardley, Council, and 22 burgesses representing 11 plantations
(or settlements) Burgesses were elected representatives. Only white men who owned a
specific amount of property were eligible to vote for Burgesses.” ~ ushistory.org
1- Who was Governor George Yeardley and what did he do?
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2- What was the House of Burgesses?
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3- Where was the first assembly meeting held?
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4- Who was eligible to vote for Burgesses?
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“There have been hundreds of members of Virginia’s House of Burgesses. Among the
most famous are: Peyton Randolph, William Byrd, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
John Pendleton, and Patrick Henry.”
5- Who do you think was the most famous member of Virginia’s House of Burgesses?
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Something to Think About:
“What is the importance of a small legislative body formed so long ago? The tradition
established by the House of Burgesses was extremely important to colonial development.
Each new English colony demanded its own legislature in turn.
Historians often ponder why the American Revolution was successful. The French,
Russian, and Chinese Revolutions each ended with a rise to power of a leader more
autocratic than the pre-revolutionary monarch.”
My Reflection:
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What is the meaning of the cartoon?