Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

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Governing the Colonies

- English colonists expected certain rights that came from living under an English government called the “rights of Englishmen” -Most of these rights were established under the Magna Carta in A.D. 1215 (noblemen could not have their properties seized by kings & they had a right to trial by jury) - The Magna Carta limited the powers of the king and over time all English people were granted these rights

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

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Parliament & Colonial Government

- Parliament , England’s chief lawmaking body, was the colonists’ model for representative government - Most colonists wanted a say in the laws governing them, so they formed their own elected assemblies that imposed taxes and managed the colonies ( Bi-cameral legislature-law making body made up of The House of Burgess and Council of the State) - The king of England appointed royal governors to rule some of the colonies on his behalf, but the colonists greatly disliked the laws they passed (privy-council-set laws and policies)

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

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The Dominion of New England

- Because King James II wanted to rule England and its colonies with total authority, the colonists were no longer allowed to practice self-government ( Dominion of New England) - Many colonists had rebelled against the British, especially after the Navigation Acts were implemented, and felt the king had no right to impose laws on them - King James II sent the royal governor, Edmund Andros, to the New England colonies to end their representative assemblies and town governments that had been set up.

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

- With their assemblies outlawed (Andros), some colonists refused to pay taxes (they felt being taxed without having a voice in government violated their rights) WOULDN’T YOU??

- Fortunately, a revolution in England swept King James II & Governor Andros from power starting “England’s Glorious Revolution” Edmund Andros

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

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England’s Glorious Revolution

- In A.D. 1688, the English Parliament overthrew King James for not respecting their Protestant rights, since he was a Catholic King James’ Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William were offered the crown after King James II fled This change in leadership was called England’s Glorious Revolution - William & Mary agreed to uphold the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which was an agreement to respect the rights of English citizens and power of Engllish Monarchy was on the Decline.

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

-The king or queen could not cancel laws or impose taxes unless

Parliament agreed

, which further strengthened the rights of the people - The American colonists quickly claimed these rights, placed Edmund Andros in jail, and asked Parliament to restore their old government

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

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Colonial Government

- Colonists regained self government, but still had to answer to a royal governor - From 1689 – 1753, England interfered very little in colonial affairs, which was a policy called salutary neglect - The colonists got used to acting on their own with very little English interference

Ch.5, Sec.1 – Roots of Representative Government

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The Zenger Trial

- Colonists moved toward gaining a new right, freedom of the press, in A.D. 1735 - John Peter Zenger, editor of the

New York Weekly Journal

, stood trial for printing criticism of New York’s governor - Zenger won his trial (from ury)from his attorney (Remember who?) claiming people had the right to speak the truth!