Government: How did they govern themselves locally and as colonies? Was there an infrastructure
for government? What were their ideas on government?

Note: Voting at this time was not by secret ballot, but by stating aloud the name of the person that you favored.

 

Issue

New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI)

Middle Colonies (DE, NY, NJ, PA)

South (GA, MD, NC, SC, VA)

What happened in the English colonies with both local and colonial government?

Unlike the beginning, by the 1700s colonial assembles with most governors royally appointed (but not well funded by the Crown)

 

In the 1700s, elected assemblies increased in power, primarily because of “power of purse” as the governors needed materials and manpower for colonial wars and they had to ask the colonial assemblies to provide that.

 

Size of franchise was large because most owned land – therefore, it was hard to control the voters.

 

What was different about the colonial and British governmental systems?

Colonies – 50-75% white males – qualified voters (compared to England with 15-30%).

 

Colonies – direct representation (compared to England’s “virtual representation”)

 

New England

·        CT – Connecticut

·        ME – Maine

·        MA – Massachusetts

·        NH – New Hampshire

  • RI – Rhode Island

Middle Colonies

·        DE – Delaware

·        NY – New York

·        NJ – New Jersey

·        PA – Pennsylvania

South

·        GA – Georgia

·        MD – Maryland

·        NC – North Carolina

·        SC – South Carolina

  • VA – Virginia

 

 

 

Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2020

 

WCJC Department:

History – Dr. Bibus

Contact Information:

281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu

Last Updated:

2020

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