America’s Political Heritage

Ch.4, sec.1

• What rights do you enjoy as an American?

• Do you have any obligations in return?

Result!

•If people do NOT take an ACTIVE part in government, rights could be reduced or taken away.

Colonial Experience• 13 colonies

– Colonists historically have voice in government– Elect representatives to legislature– (1619 Virginian colonists elected

representatives to House of Burgesses)– Still subject to English Monarch, colony

established through charter– If challenged authority, stripped of

charter and become royal colony

Reality

• England too busy to pay attention

• Do you think that England intended to allow American colonists to govern themselves?

• How did colonists practice self- government?

Preserving Rights

• Time to time – power struggles between Legislatures and Colonial Governors and Proprietors.

• Colonists work to preserve rights

Citizenship in the Colonies

• Only white, male, land owners may vote or hold public office

• common belief most laws affect them• only wealthy men have enough education

and free time to be involved

* Remember, citizens in most nations (1600’s and early 1700’s) were not allowed to vote and did not have any rights

Common Good

• Serve on juries, members of local militia or volunteer army

• Puritans- public school to ensure people could read Bible

Roots of Freedom

• Religious Freedom– Puritans fled England– Roger Williams left Massachusetts Bay

Colony after criticizing Puritans (R.I.)– (usually means Christian church)

• Freedom of the Press– English law, a

publisher may NOT criticize the government

– 1735 J.P.Zenger writes articles criticizing NY governor of abusing power->trial-> not guilty

Signs of Discontent

• Mid 1700’s, England tightens control over colonies

• Colonists complaints -> abuse of power

• TYRANNY