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Colonial government in the Thirteen Colonies

The views of Charles M. Andrews on the rise of assemblies as background and context for both colonial politics and the Revolution. Bernard Bailyn 1968 p. 7–10

The leaders of the Revolution themselves said they were resisting a "design" or conspiracy of British ministers to overthrow the British constitution in both America and England and to eliminate or reduce English liberties. Bailyn 1968 p. 11

"Above all else, however, England prided herself on her success—a success that elevated the nation above all others, and most especially above France—in having established, after the upheavals of the seventeenth century, liberty as the principal goal of a stable and secure constitution." Bailyn 1968 pp. 16–17

Colonial government before 1689

In 1606, James I granted the Virginia Company a charter authorizing it to colonize and govern Virginia colony. Initially, the company back in England chose a seven-member governing council chaired by a president to lead the colony. In 1609, the king granted the company a new charter replacing the president and council with a governor appointed by the company. In 1619, the company introduced representative government to the colony with the establishment of the Virginia General Assembly, consisting of a governor's council and the House of Burgesses. The company chose the council, but qualified colonists elected the burgesses. This was the first true legislature in America. In 1624, the Crown revoked the bankrupt Virginia Company's charter, and Virginia became the first royal colony.

In 1632, Charles I authorized the establishment of Maryland and granted it to Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, to own and govern as a proprietary colony. Despite being Maryland's lord proprietor, Baltimore remained in England and chose a governor to run the colony. The proprietorship remained in the Calvert family until the American Revolution. As in Virginia, the proprietor had to share power with the wealthy planter class, which refused to pay taxes unless authorized by a representative assembly.

Established churches

In Virginia, the counties also functioned as Church of England parishes. Prominent planters served on the vestry, a board with responsibility for building churches, hiring parsons, and providing poor relief.

References

Sources

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