Political Examples of Self Government

Bicameral Legislatures

All thirteen colonies in America had bicameral legislatures with upper and lower houses. The lower house was elected by the people and helped make laws for the colony. The legislatures were involved in self-taxation for each individual colony.

English Civil War

Also the time of the Thirty Years War, in the 1640s, the English civil war took place between the Monarchy and Parliment. Parliment was victorious under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan. During this time, colonization was halted for about twenty years. The colonies developed into self-governing, independent commonwealths.

Salutary Neglect

Conceived by Robert Walpole, salutary neglect was a policy of non-interference in the colonies.

New England Confederation

Established in 1643, the New England Confederation was an alliance of several colonies that established a joint defense against common enemies. Only Puritan colonies were permitted membership.

Town Meetings

In New England, town meetings were common. They were held annually and were used to discuss issues. Anyone was permitted to speak, making them examples of open democracy.

Royal Colonies

In royal colonies, self-government was still present. The colonies controlled the salary of the governor, giving them control of their own government.

County Government

In the South, county government was very popular.

Town Government

In the middle colonies, town government was popular. It was representative government.

Company Charters

James I granted charters to companies planning to settle to Americas, such as the London Company (which established Jamestown). These charters guaranteed English rights in America.

General Court

The General Court was the legislative body of the Massachusetts colony. It had multiple duties and was bicameral. Only the elect were allowed to serve, and two to three deputies were sent from each town.

House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses of Virginia was established in 1619. It was a representative assembly that set an enormous colonial precedent by being compiled of two legislatures. Only white, male, adult landowners could vote and serve. (Necessary for any political essay.)

Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact was written around 1620 in Plymouth. It established a government that consented to the will of the majority and was an early form of democracy.

Fundamental Orders

The colony of Connecticut is only noteworthy in its creation of the Fundamental Orders. This was the first constitution in America and created a bicameral legislature.