Roots of Self-government
in Colonial America
New World Colonization:
Roots of Self-government
ESSENTIAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES (ELO): 8.3: Students will identify, describe, and explain the
development and impact of self-government in the American Colonies
LESSON OBJECTIVES (TSS):
 TSS 8.13 Analyze the ideas that significantly impacted the development of colonial selfgovernment by citing textual evidence and examining multiple perspectives using source
documents: First Virginia Charter (1606); Mayflower Compact (1620); Charter of
Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629); Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639); New England
Article of Confederation (1643); and the Maryland Toleration Act (1649)
ASSIGNMENT:
 Complete Colonial Self-government OneSheet
 Read: Chapter 4, Lesson 1 The Growth of Slavery (Pages 87-89)
Describe the First Virginia Charter and how it impacted
the development of colonial self-government.
Description: Outlined the rules for the Virginia Colony including how they would be
governed, the intent to spread Christianity, find gold, and that they and all their children
would enjoy all the liberties of English citizens
Impact: Created a council in the colonies “which shall govern and order all Matters-and
Causes…”. This council would develop into the first representative legislature in the
colonies, the House of Burgesses in 1619.
Describe the Mayflower Compact and how it impacted
the development of colonial self-government.
Description: An agreement to form a government and obey laws for the good of the colony.
Impact: Though intended as a temporary instrument of government while they waited for
the king’s permission to start a colony outside the area they were supposed to settle, the
Mayflower Compact is the first document in which colonists set up their own government
(1620). [House of Burgesses was established by Virginia Company]
Describe the Massachusetts Bay Charter and how it
impacted the development of colonial self-government.
Description: Permission to establish a colony north of Plymouth for persecuted Puritans in
1629 that describes economic and property rights
Impact: Though not specifically mentioned in the document, the Puritans used the charter
to create a self-governing colony that gave power to church members who elected a
Governor and Council.
Describe the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut and how
it impacted the development of colonial self-government.
Description: Agreement by three Connecticut towns to form a new government in 1639
that contained eleven articles
Impact: First written constitution [instructions of government organization] in the colonies.
Laid the foundation of popular sovereignty [power is derived from citizens]; established an
elected General Assembly and Governor
Describe the New England Articles of Confederation and how
it impacted the development of colonial self-government.
Description: A confederation [alliance] that united the colonies of Connecticut and
Massachusetts primarily for the defense against Native Americans (1643).
Impact: Colonies agreed to handle their own diplomatic [between nations] matters in
dealing with Native Americans for “their own mutual safety and welfare”. Managed peace
with the Native Americans for over 30 years and maintained positive relations with the
French and Dutch as well.
Describe the Maryland Toleration Act and how it impacted
the development of colonial self-government.
Description: A law passed by the Maryland legislature designed to protect the religious
rights of both Protestants and Catholics in 1649
Impact: Gave the colony a measure of religious freedom while promoting toleration and a
“more peaceable government”
Colonial Culture and Society
1. The main reason for population growth in the
immigration
colonies was___________________________
2. What were the first colleges set up to do in the
colonies?
To train ministers
Colonial Culture and Society
3. The American who best exemplified the
Ben Franklin
Enlightenment way of thinking was ___________
4. Although widows and unmarried women
vote
enjoyed certain rights, they could not_________
Colonial Culture and Society
Religious revival
5. The Great Awakening was a _______________
that occurred in the 1730 and 40s.
6. What were three things that contributed to
American Culture?
Religion, education, and science
Colonial Culture and Society
7. Which court case was an important step
toward the idea of freedom of the press?
Zenger Trial
8. How did most children learn to read and
write?
They learned at home. Taught by parents
Colonial Culture and Society
9. What were some of the roles for married
women in the colonies?
Ran the household, cared for children, and
worked in the fields
The family
10. _____________________________
formed
the basic foundation for colonial life
Colonial Culture and Society
11. What were some roles for colonial sons?
Worked as indentured servants, on family
farm/business or served apprenticeships
12. The colonies were often victim to large
Disease/small pox
epidemics of ____________________________.
Colonial Culture and Society
13. The two most influential leaders of the Great
Jonathan Edwards
Awakening were __________________________
George Whitefield
and ____________________________________
The Enlightenment
14. _________________________
promoted
freedom of thought, a belief in quality, and the
idea of popular government.
Colonial Culture and Society
15. What were the two main effects of the Great
Awakening?
Led to the formation of other protestant
denominations (greater religious freedom and
toleration)
United the colonists in a common experience