Chapter 2Origins of American Government

Section 1Our Political Background

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English Settlers Arrive in North America

The British Empire prospers in the New World.

English settlers on the eastern coast keep Dutch and French colonists out.

The eastern seaboard is heavily English by the 1700s.

Eventually England becomes most dominant country in the Americas.

• Spain was weakened by a shrinking population and lagging economy.

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Britain Gradually Dominates the New World in the 1700s

Why Colonists Leave England To flee religious persecution

To establish a utopian (perfect) society

To become landowners

• The average person could not get land in England.

• England granted charters to businesses: Contract between the English crown and a person or company giving the right to establish a colony.

To make their fortunes

To provide raw materials for England

• Colonies’ mercantile system focused on trade and competition with other nations.

• Mercantilism: economic system in which the government regulates through absolutism.

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Your Turn

Which religious groups immigrated to the colonies in hopes of finding religious freedom?

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English Political Beliefs: Seeds of Self-Rule

Magna Carta, 1215

• One of the first documents to limit a king’s power

• Provides due process and the rule of law

• Outlawed jailing subjects without criminal charges

Petition of Right,1628

• Establishes that king is not above the law

English Bill of Rights, 1689

• Protects rights of the people

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English Protections

Petition of Right: Limits king’s power

No punishment without peer judgment

No imposition of military rule in peacetime

No requirement that homeowner house troops

No collection of money without consent of Parliament

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English Protections

English Bill of Rights: Increases citizen’s power

Right to trial by jury of peers

Freedom from excessive bail or fines

Right to keep arms

Right to petition government

Freedom of speech and debate within Parliament

Right to have Parliament make laws

Right to have no standing army without permission of Parliament

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Participation in Colonial Government

There were three types of colonial governments:

• Royal: Leaders chosen by king of England

• Proprietary: Leaders chosen by person who received grant from king

• Charter: Leaders elected by white, male property owners in colonies

Some colonies set up colonial representative assemblies (for example, the House of Burgesses in Virginia).

Communities usually made their own decisions about leadership (but the king appointed some governors).

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Who Could Vote in the Colonies?

Property: Only property owners–later amended to taxpayers–were allowed to vote.

Religion: Voters had to meet moral or religious standards.

Race: Because blacks were forbidden to own property, they could not vote. Biggest political obstacle.

Gender: Few women were allowed to vote.

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Your Turn

Colonial leaders wanted to ensure that life in the New World would be better than life in England.

1. If you were a founding father, how would you have ensured that voters were taking the common good into account?

2. What perspective do you think the founders had about the average person and participation in politics?