Chapter 2 Democracy in the colonies Learning Objectives Explain how self-government got its start in the colonies Explain the purpose of the Mayflower Compact. Describe the ways the Pilgrims practiced direct democracy. Explain how the idea of freedom of religion grew in the colonies. Describe the actions of the First and Second Continental Congress.
Explain the meaning and importance of the Declaration of WORDS TO KNOW 1. Direct democracy 2. Governor (in the colonies) 3. Contract 4. Charter Political
New Government in a New Land The first two English colonies established in American had different experiences with self-government. In Virginia, it established the which resembled the one used in ancient. In Massachusetts the form of self-government was - which resembled that of ancient. The First representative government The first English settlement to arrive in North American landed in, in 1607. The colonists were sent by a large English trading company the. The colonists agreed to work for the company for seven years. However many of them became unhappy. They were unhappy because they had say in the way they were.
The company that owned the colony appointed who had complete power. Direct Democracy Under the Mayflower Compact The Pilgrims sailed from England in 1620 on the ship. The pilgrims were beyond the control and rules of the London Company. However, the Pilgrims knew they were still under the rule of the. Before they landed they drew up a contract. Under this agreement, the Pilgrims promised to make a for the. They were going to and. The Pilgrims agreement was called the. Starting New Colonies for Religious Freedom
The Massachusetts colonists came to to be free to from their own church. However the settlers new church and government said other churches were allowed in the colony. Some colonists wanted to be to set up any kind of church they wanted. For this reason, some people left the Massachusetts colony and set up two new colonies called and. This idea of later took hold in all. Today, all Americans have the freedom to practice they choose. The First Written Constitutions The colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island were started with from. They made their own. They elected and. They elected their own and. They were first colonies to draw up written.
These documents listed the of the government as well as the of the people. Differences Over Colonial Rule Even though they had some they were still owned and ruled by. The colonists limited the powers of the kings. They passed laws to give themselves the. That gave them final say on all the governors plans for. The British government sent soldiers to help the colonies to fight the. During the 1760 s, the British lawmaking body, passed new laws that the colonists. Parliament felt that the colonists should help pay for the cost of the war. Every new tax that Parliament made angered the colonists. They pointed out that they had to elect representatives to Parliament. They cried!
Many refused to pay the taxes. So Parliament passed laws to punish them which made things worse. The First Continental Congress In 1774 representatives from the colonies met in Philadelphia to talk about their problems with Great Britain. This meeting became known as the. They drew up the. It included right to, right to decide their own and right to manage their own. The members of the Continental Congress drew up a petition to King George III. They asked him to lift the taxes or colonies would refuse to buy or sell goods. Both Parliament and king to act. The only thing they did was to send more of their to colonies. This caused the colonies to.
Within months, fighting broke out between and the. The Second Continental Congress and from Massachusetts fought each other in April 1775. In May, the met in Philadelphia. They decided to form an to defend their rights. was chosen to lead the army. Less than a year later the Second Continental Congress breaks all ties with Great Britain. Colonies declare themselves and. Thomas Jefferson was asked to write a. On, the Declaration of Independence was accepted by Congress and signed by all its members. With that the Second Continental Congress became the of the.