Warm Up:
How are decisions made in the
United States today?
Today’s Question:
How were decisions made
in the Colonial America?
Agenda:
1. Class Discussion: Power Triangle
2. Simulation: How were decisions made in
Colonial Virginia?
3. Create T-Chart
4. Pass out colonies study guide
Power Triangle
Least People, Most Power
________
Owns all land,
makes all laws
__________________
Law making body that advises
the King
______________________
Appointed by the King to rule the colony
______________________
Law making body elected by wealthy members
of the colony
_______________________
Gatherings of land-owning colonists to talk
about taxes, money, and laws
Most People, Least Power
Colonial Governors
“Whenever we find ourselves with a needy
court-dangler, whom we must kick down the
stairs, we kick him into an American
government.”
One was described as being “fitter for an
insane asylum or other hospital, than to be
set over a respectable [territory].”
Royal Governors
The first meeting of the VA Assembly
“Should we raise the price of tobacco?”
“How should we deal with the Native Americans living nearby?”
New England town meeting
“What should villages pay in taxes to support a school?”
“Should pigs be allowed to roam freely about the village or be penned up?”
Meeting of the Class Legislature
Red dots: carefully lift your chair and make a
circle in the center of the room.
Green dots: sit in the desks around the inner
circle
Blank cards: sit on the floor
Meeting of the Class Legislature Rules:
1. Your job is to create 3 new class rules. These rules
will be in place for the remainder of the class
period.
2. Once you have come up with the rules, green dots
will have 30 seconds to voice their opinions.
3. You then have 4 minutes to revise the laws.
4. As an employee of the school, I will have the final
say on the laws. I will decide according to what I
think the principal would want.
Classroom
History
Wrap Up:
Underneath your T-Chart:
In 3-5 sentences, describe your feelings on
this type of government.