Growth of Representative Government in the Colonies

Front

Why did the Pilgrims create the Mayflower Compact when they landed at Plymouth in 1620?

Back

To promise they would follow laws they agreed upon as a group

Answer explanation

• The Mayflower Compact established a system of self-government for the colony.

The King of England was a great distance away so colonists needed to govern themselves.

• The Pilgrims agreed to form a civil body politic to maintain order and make decisions.

  Civil Body Politic- group of people governing themselves

👉 In short: The Mayflower Compact was an early example of colonists agreeing to govern themselves and follow laws for the common good.

Front

Representative government and institutions grew during the colonial period because —

Back

England practiced salutary neglect and allowed colonies to govern themselves

Answer explanation

Rulers in England tended to leave the colonists to themselves.

Salutary Neglect: England ignored and didn’t closely watch the colonies.

This allowed colonists to develop their own general assemblies and systems of self-government.

Salutary Neglect led to reduced direct control from the English crown.

👉 In short: England ignored the colonies and let them govern themselves.

Front

Which document limited the power of the King of England for the first time? Options: English Bill of Rights, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact

Back

Magna Carta

Answer explanation

• Signed by King John of England in 1215

• Limited the power of the king for the first time

• Established that rulers must follow the law (rule of law)

• Influenced colonists’ belief in limited government and rights of the people

👉 In short: The Magna Carta inspired American colonists to expect that government should protect rights and that leaders are not above the law.

Front

How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut influence the development of representative government in America?

Back

It was the first written constitution that established self-government in the colonies.

Answer explanation

• First written constitution in the American colonies (Connecticut in 1639)
  

• Outlined the structure of government and allowed citizens to elect leaders
  

• Established the principle of self-government and representative decision-making

• 👉 In short: The Fundamental Orders was the first written constitution in the colonies that limited government and allowed people to govern themselves.

Front

Which lawmaking body in England served as a model for colonial assemblies and influenced the growth of self-government in the colonies?

Back

The Parliament

Answer explanation

England’s Parliament made laws and limited the power of the king.

Colonial assemblies- early representative governments where colonists could vote for leaders to make laws.

Example: Virginia House of Burgesses

Colonists adapted the idea of elected representatives making local laws.

👉 In short: England’s Parliament inspired colonies to create assemblies and practice self-government.

Front

How did the English Bill of Rights influence the development of government in the American colonies?

Back

It limited the power of the ruler and protected certain individual rights.

Front

Which group of colonists were generally allowed to participate in self-government by electing representatives?

Back

Adult men who owned property

Answer explanation

Colonial governments often limited voting to property-owning men.

These men could vote for or be a representative in colonial assemblies.

Elections helped establish early forms of representative government

👉 In short: Only adult men who owned property were usually allowed to vote and elect officials in the colonies.

Front

Which statement BEST explains the significance of New England town meetings and the Virginia House of Burgesses during the Colonial Era?

Back

They allowed colonists to participate in making laws and governing themselves

Answer explanation

New England town meetings allowed citizens to discuss and vote on local laws

The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected assembly in the colonies

Both gave colonists a voice in government and promoted self-government

👉 In short: Town meetings and the House of Burgesses helped colonists practice representative government.

Front

Which of the following is a key characteristic of a representative government? Options: Citizens directly make all laws without elected officials, The ruler makes all decisions without input from the people, Laws are decided only by the king or royal governor, Leaders are elected to make laws and are accountable to the people

Back

Leaders are elected to make laws and are accountable to the people

Answer explanation

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Leaders must answer to the people and follow established rules.

Representative government gives people a voice in government

👉 In short: Representative government lets people choose leaders to make decisions for them.

Front

-Distance from Great Britain
-Mayflower Compact
-Town hall meetings
The factors listed above contributed most to the -

Back

growth of representative government in the British colonies

Answer explanation

Distance from Great Britain forced colonists to solve problems locally

The Mayflower Compact created a civil body politic based on self-government

Town hall meetings let citizens vote on laws and decisions

👉 In short: These factors encouraged the growth of representative and self-government in the colonies.