Colonial Government Lesson

The Thirteen Colonies

By Shelbey Allen

Open Ended

Given the characteristics of a civilization we've been studying, what should we explore about the colonies?

Type your answer in the box below.

The focus of this lesson will be to explore what made the thirteen British colonies successful.

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​The New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies

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​New England	​ Middle	​ Southern
​Georgia	Delaware​	Connecticut​
South Carolina​	Pennsylvania​	Rhode Island​
North Carolina​	New Jersey​	Massachusetts​
Virginia​	New York​	New Hampshire​
Maryland​	​	​

Objectives:

​Discuss how taxation by Britain, self-governance, and representation influenced the development of colonial governments.

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Compare and contrast colonial government structures and ideals with the current government system of the United States.

1. What document established the government of each British colony?

2. In which colonial settlement did the Virginia House of Burgesses begin?

3. According to this article, what was unique about the first government of the Pilgrims?

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​ Reread the second paragraph of the text:

• Identify the parts of a typical British colonial government.​

​The Colonial Experience

​With your partner, read the excerpts on The House of Burgesses on the next few slides.

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The House of

Burgesses​

​Part 2

​Part 3

​Now that you have finished reading about the House of Burgesses, the next document we will examine the Charter of Delaware.

Multiple Choice

What is a charter?

• the governing body of a nation, state, or community

• a written grant by a country's legislative or sovereign power, by which a city is founded and its rights and privileges defined

• control of an organization or group by the majority of its members

• practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country

1. ​What is the job of the Assembly?

2. Who is in charge of the Assembly?

3. What grants the Assembly their power and privileges?

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Charter of

Delaware

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Now that we have completed our research into the colonial government structure, will begin our first assessment.

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​You will each use Canva to create a Comparing Governments graphic organizer to demonstrate understanding of the different types of government in colonial America and the government of America today.

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CLICK HERE to begin designing your graphic organizer.