Ch. 9, Sec. 2
The Roots of Representative Government
Explain the reasons why the Colonists expected their government to
preserve their basic rights as English subjects.
The Rights of Englishmen and the Seeds of the
American Revolution!
• As Englishmen, the colonists living here in the
Americas expected certain rights that came from
living under the protective arm of the English
government.
• These rights were known as, “The Rights of
Englishmen” and they had been guaranteed to all
English citizens since 1215.
The Magna Carta!
•The first step in guaranteeing rights.
•In 1215, a group of English noblemen and
freemen forced King John to accept this
document, also known as the GREAT CHARTER.
•Citizens could not have their property seized by
the king or his officials.
•They could not be taxed unless a council
agreed to it.
•No trials for individuals that were based upon
an official’s word without a witness.
•Punishment was subject to a jury of peers.
•The Magna Carta limited the powers of the king
and over time, these rights were granted to ALL
citizens of Great Britain.
King John signs the Magna Carta.
Parliament and Colonial Government
• One of the most important English rights was the right to elect
representatives to government. As a result, Parliament was
created.
• Parliament-The chief lawmaking body in England. Prior to the
Revolutionary War, this was the colonists’ model for
representative government.
• The Parliament is composed of the House of Lords and the
House of Commons.
• As Englishmen, the colonists also wanted a say so in the laws
that governed them, albeit the mainland was 3,000 miles to the
east.
• To make-up for this problem, the colonies formed their own
elected assemblies, similar to the House of Commons. The
House of Burgesses was the first of these.
Although the American colonists governed themselves in many
ways, England still had supreme authority over them.
Oftentimes, the King would appoint royal governors to rule over
them on his behalf. This would upset the colonists as they had no
choice in the matter.
Also, the colonies had NO representatives to represent them in
Parliament.
These two issues grew into major concerns during the 1600 and
1700’s and sowed the seeds for Revolution.
A Royal Governor’s Rule
In 1685, King James II of England came to
power wanted to rule with absolute
authority in not only England, but the
colonies as well.
One of his first acts was to combine
Massachusetts and the other Northern
colonies into the “Dominion of New
England.”
Edmund Andros was chosen by King James
as the Royal governor. Almost immediately,
Andros ended the meeting of colonial
assemblies and brought an end to all town
meetings.
With this done, many of the colonists
refused to pay their taxes since their rights
as Englishmen had been violated.
Governor Andros also placed the Colonial Militia under his direct
control and dispensed with the practice of a trial by jury. The actions
of Edmund Andros and King James angered not only the colonists,
but the citizens of England as well.
The Glorious Revolution
The English Parliament decided to overthrow
King James for his abuse of power and for not
respecting the Rights of Englishmen.
This overthrow was called the “Glorious
Revolution” and King James was replaced by
new rulers, William and Mary.
After accepting the throne, William and Mary
agreed to uphold the English Bill of Rights.
The English Bill of Rights
• This was an agreement to respect the rights of all English citizens
and of Parliament.
• By signing it, the king or queen could not cancel laws or impose
taxes unless the Parliament agreed to.
• The bill also stated that there must be frequent elections and
meetings of Parliament.
• In addition, excessive fines and cruel punishments for citizens were
forbidden and people had the right to complain to the king or queen
without being arrested.
• Lastly, the English Bill of Rights established an important principle:
The government was to be based on laws made my Parliament,
not on the desires of a ruler. As a result, the rights of the people
were strengthened.
• Naturally, the American colonists were quick to claim these same
rights.
Colonial Government
King
Royal Governor
Council
Colonial Assembly
Shared Power in the Colonies
• After the Glorious Revolution, England interfered very
little in colonial affairs.
• Salutary Neglect- England’s “hands-off” policy towards
the colonies. Parliament passed many laws regulating
trade, the use of money and apprenticeships, but these
laws were rarely, if ever, enforced.
1. List and explain at least three traditional rights that were expected by the
English colonists.
2. Describe at least three ways in which the English government angered the
colonists in the 1600’s.
3. Explain how Great Britain's policies changed after the Glorious Revolution.
4. At what point did the bond between the Colonies and Great Britain begin to
unravel? (It was with this action directly after the French and Indian War).
5. Since the American colonies were owned and controlled by Great Britain, the
colonists felt that they had the same __________ as Englishmen.
6. The great charter, which was signed by King John in 1215, granted certain right
to all English citizens.
7. Similar to our Congress, this it the chief lawmaking body in English
government. It made the laws for both Great Britain and the colonies.
8. What were the colonists lacking, however, in the English government and why
was this a major source of disagreement?
9. “Hands-off” policy towards the colonies.