Colonial Political Period Essay
The Colonial Political Period Government in the colonies represented an extension of the English government. Courts enforced the common law of England. The Governor's Council or the Governor's Court was a body of senior advisers to the appointed royal Governor in each province.
The legislative body, which went by various names from colony to colony and through time, was elected by the enfranchised Quakers. By seventeen fifty, most free white men could vote. In colonial New England there were annual town meetings, where each colonist had a voice.
Diplomatic affairs were handled by London, as were some trade policies. The colonies generally handled domestic matters (and wars with the Native Americans), but England – and after seventeen thousand …show more content…
The council was seen as serving continuously; whereas the elected lawmakers of the colony typically met just once a year, addressing at that time taxes, budgets, and other concerns. Like the assembly, most council positions were unpaid.
While lawyers were prominent throughout the Thirteen Colonies, merchants were important in the northern colonies and planters were more involved in the southern provinces. These were the groups from which the appointed councilors and elected delegates were chosen. The assemblies had a variety of names, such as: House of Delegates, House of Burgesses, or Assembly of Freemen. They had several features in common. Members were elected annually, by the propertied citizens of the towns or counties. Usually they met for a single, short session; but the council or governor could call a special session. Suffrage was allotted only to free white men and, in the early days at least, limited to landowners. Land ownership was widespread, however, which meant that most white men were able to cast a vote. Tax issues and budget decisions originated in the assembly. Part of the budget went toward the cost of raising and equipping the colonial malitia. As the American Revolution drew near, this subject was a point of contention and conflict between the provincial assemblies and their respective
The legislative body, which went by various names from colony to colony and through time, was elected by the enfranchised Quakers. By seventeen fifty, most free white men could vote. In colonial New England there were annual town meetings, where each colonist had a voice.
Diplomatic affairs were handled by London, as were some trade policies. The colonies generally handled domestic matters (and wars with the Native Americans), but England – and after seventeen thousand …show more content…
The council was seen as serving continuously; whereas the elected lawmakers of the colony typically met just once a year, addressing at that time taxes, budgets, and other concerns. Like the assembly, most council positions were unpaid.
While lawyers were prominent throughout the Thirteen Colonies, merchants were important in the northern colonies and planters were more involved in the southern provinces. These were the groups from which the appointed councilors and elected delegates were chosen. The assemblies had a variety of names, such as: House of Delegates, House of Burgesses, or Assembly of Freemen. They had several features in common. Members were elected annually, by the propertied citizens of the towns or counties. Usually they met for a single, short session; but the council or governor could call a special session. Suffrage was allotted only to free white men and, in the early days at least, limited to landowners. Land ownership was widespread, however, which meant that most white men were able to cast a vote. Tax issues and budget decisions originated in the assembly. Part of the budget went toward the cost of raising and equipping the colonial malitia. As the American Revolution drew near, this subject was a point of contention and conflict between the provincial assemblies and their respective