A Review of Colonial Governments

Describe two principles of Mercantilism.

-They kept wages as low as possible so that goods could be produced cheaply and this would allow a greater profit margin on exports and would help keep the country price of the good down to keep it competitive. -There had to be more exports than imports.

How many people usually made up the colonial councils and what were the three functions of the council?

12 men usually made up the colonial councils. The three functions were it was a board of advisers for the governor. It constituted the upper house of legislature, and it frequently formed the highest court of the colony.

According to a site, how many types of colonies were there and what were their names?

2 colonies, Corporation and Provincial

What colonies were Charter colonies?

Connecticut and Rhode Island

Under what names did the assemblies of colonial America operate?

House of Delegates, Assembly of Freeman, and House of Burgesses

What is a Royal colony?

A Royal colony is ruled directly by Britain. In each, Parliament appointed a governor and council, known as the upper house. The governor and members of the council did what Britain leaders told them to. This led to conflicts with the colonists in the assembly.

What is a charter colony?

A charter colony was established by groups of settlers who had been given a charter, or a grant of rights and privileges. These colonies elected their governors and the members of both houses of the legislature. Although, Great Britain had the right to approve the governor's appointment, the colonial governor could not veto the acts of the legislature.

What is a Proprietary colony?

A proprietary colony is run by individuals or groups to whom land was granted. They were generally free to rule as they wished. They appointed the governor and members of the upper house of the legislature, while the people elected the lower house.

What were the three types of colonies in British America?

Charter colonies, Proprietary colonies, and Royal colonies

What colonies were Proprietary colonies?

Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania

What colonies were Royal colonies?

Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia

What were three powers Royal governors had?

He could convene, prorogue, or dissolve the legislature, or veto and of its laws. He had command of the militia, and appointed officials. He had industrial, commercial, ecclesiastical as well as political duties.

What colonies were considered Corporation colonies?

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut

What is mercantilism?

Mercantilism is an economic idea that a country or economy will be better off both economically and socially if it has positive trade balance (the value of goods exported are greater than the value of goods imported) and by doing this it will accumulate larger monetary reserves.

What colony does the textbook fail to include in a category?

South Carolina

The assemblies, or lower house of the legislatures, had two powers. What were they?

The assemblies had the chief legislature power, but its acts could be vetoed by the governor or be set aside by the crown. They had the sole power of taxation. The assembly of every colony clung with jealous tenacity.

Aside from Rhode Island and Connecticut, what "organs" made up each of the other colonial governments?

The governor appointed by the crown or by the proprietor, or proprietors. The council, also appointed by the Crown. The Assembly or House of Representatives, elected by the people.

What were the qualifications needed for a person to be able to vote in America?

The person had to be a white man, who was a citizen, owned land, and sometimes they had to be of a certain religion.

How did the English enforce the system of Mercantilism? Who was the enforcement directed against and why was it directed against them?

They enforced this system through the Navigation acts. It was directed against American colonies because they didn't want them to break off from Britain, so they hurt their economy.

Why did the colonists feel that they were self-governing?

They felt that way because they had the power of taxation. Their liberties were secure so long as they could retain this sole right of taxing themselves.

What was one very important power that the governors did not possess?

They had no power over the funds raised by a government by taxation or other means.

How did the lower house check the power of the governors and make them approve legislation that was, at times, contrary to their royal instructions?

They would withhold supplies. They would refuse to grant the governor his salary until he approved certain laws.