Chapter 5 Section 1 Notes: Forms of Government (Sample Notes)
Governing the Colonies
• Each colony operated independently
• Colonies fell into one of three categories:
Proprietary
Company
Royal
• The king granted charters
• Privy Council made rules for the colonies
Organization
• Colonies governed themselves mostly
• Each colony had a governor
Colonial Assemblies
• Some colonies had an assembly to make laws
• Assemblies were like Parliament, the English legislature
• Parliament was a bicameral legislature – it had two houses or groups
• Jamestown had first assembly
• Governor usually approved laws from assemblies
• Assemblies and governors struggled for power
• Assembly paid governor’s salary though
Town Meetings
New England colonies held town meetings where all the men would meet to make laws
Colonial Courts
• Courts usually showed beliefs of colonists
• Massachusetts laws were based on the Bible
• Courts sometimes protected freedoms
• Zenger was found not guilty of libel – a false written statement – after he criticized the governor of New York.
The Dominion of New England
• James II united the New England colonies and New York and New Jersey into one group
• He suspended their charters
• King’s actions upset the colonists
• Edmund Andros was made governor – he was unpopular
The Glorious Revolution
• William and Mary, rulers of the Netherlands, were asked to help overthrow James II.
• This was the Glorious Revolution
• Colonists sent Andros back to England during the confusion
• The Dominion of New England got their charters back
• New charters were basically the same
• In Massachusetts you now had to own land to vote instead of being in the church.
• The Glorious Revolution led to new laws like the English Bill of Rights of 1689.
• The power of the monarchy declined.
• Colonists grew to value their rights.
These notes are just an example of what you could do. Remember, when taking notes you want:
• Important events, people, and ideas
• Some examples
• Key Terms (which are usually important ideas anyway)