U.S. History

Chapter 5: Life in the English ColoniesSection 1: Forms of Government

Colonial Governments

•Charters:

–Proprietary

–Company

–Royal

Colonial Governments

•Privy Council

•Governors

Colonial Assemblies

•Parliament: England’s national legislature

•Bicameral—law making body made up of two houses

Parliament

House of

CommonsHouse of

Lords

Congress

House of

Representatives Senate

Colonial Assemblies

•Powers: raise taxes, organize governments, control military

•Governor & Advisory Council: had to approve all laws

Colonial Assemblies

•Virginia Assembly (1619):

–Council of State

–House of Burgesses Debate in the House of

Burgesses

Colonial Assemblies

•New England: Town Meetings

•Southern Colonies

•Middle Colonies

Colonial Courts

•Influenced by royal officials

•Supported local interests & ideas

Colonial Courts

•1733: John Peter Zenger criticizes NY governor

•Libel—false statements that damage a person’s reputation

Colonial Courts

•Andrew Hamilton: Zenger can publish whatever he wants so long as it is true—even if it is damaging!

Zenger’s Newspaper

Colonial Courts

• Chief Justice: “Nothing can be worse to any government than to have people attempt to create distrust of it.”

• Zenger found not guilty

The Dominion of New England

•1685: James II becomes King of England

King James II

The Dominion of New England

• 1686: northern colonies united under single government called the Dominion of New England

• Sir Edmund Andros named governor

Sir Edmund Andros

The Glorious Revolution

•James II attempts to restore Catholicism

•Parliament requests Mary & William come to rule England

The Glorious Revolution

•Glorious Revolution: Mary & William of Orange overthrew

James II of England

King William III Queen Mary II

The Glorious Revolution

•1689: colonists remove Andros from power

•William & Mary reissue charters

•English Bill of Rights established