What Influenced the Colonies Government?

Objective 1.02

Big Question

If you started your own country, what are 3 laws you

would write and enforce? Why?

With a partner discuss the following question.

Do you recognize these words?

legislationBill of rights

Declaration of independence

governor

Town hall meetings

democracyconstitution

elections

Influence on the Colonies?

EnglandWhere were the first settlers from?

So, whose government do you think would influence the new colonies?

England

In order to understand England’s influence we need to go back to

the beginning.

Absolute Monarchy

King Henry 1Queen ElizabethKing William the

Conqueror

England was an absolute monarchy. This meant that their kings and queens had UNLIMITED power over the English people.

Meet King John1215 The nobles rebelled against King John.

They forced the king to sign an agreement called Magna Carta. This document protected the nobles and

later gave rights to all English people.

mean man

Road to a Glorious Revolution

After a transfer of power to William and Mary there was a peaceful time called the Glorious Revolution. From

this time on no ruler would have more power than Parliament.

Parliament

1689Parliament wrote the English Bill of Rights• Free election to Parliament• Right to a fair trial• elimination of cruel and unusual punishments

Bill of Rights…does this sound familiar?

Arrival

Road to Self Government

House of Burgesses

Salutary neglect

Mayflower Compact

Fundamental Order of Connecticut

Jamestown 1612

After the establishment of Jamestown the 1st

legislature was created. It was called the

House of Burgesses.

What is a Burgess? A citizen of an English town.

Mayflower Compact

Pact to have a direct democracy.

• Town hall meetings• Local town government

Do you see evidence of this today?

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1639In Connecticut the first constitution

was written called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

It stated:1. That the assembly of elected

representatives from each town to make laws.

2. There would be a popular election of a governor and judges

Salutary Neglect

Separated by more than 3000 miles, Great Britain still had loose control over the

colonies which they called salutary neglect.

The colonies were self governing and taking care of their own problems while England

was focused on problems in England.

Do you recognize these words?

Fundamental Order of Connecticut

House of Burgesses

Salutary Neglect

Mayflower Compact

English Bill of Rights Absolute monarch

Magna Carta

Glorious Revolution