CH 3.1 England and Its Colonies

MAIN IDEA

England and its largely self-governing colonies prosper under a mutually beneficial trade relationship.

WHY IT MATTERS NOW

English governing traditions influence Americans sense of self rule.

English Political Traditions

• Magna Carta, 1215.

-Can’t seize property.

-Elect representatives.

-Taxed only with representation.

-Trail by jury.

• Parliament , representative body.

-House of Commons.

-House of Lords.

Mercantilism

• Settlers export raw materials; import manufactured goods.

• Countries must get gold, silver to be self-sufficient.

• Favorable balance of trade means more gold coming in than going out.

The Navigation Acts

• Parliament- England’s legislative body.

-colonial sales to other countries

are an economic threat.

• 1651, pass acts to restrict colonial trade.

Crackdown in Massachusetts

• Colonists resent the acts and smuggle goods.

• 1684 King Charles revokes charter; creates royal colony.

The Dominion of New England• King James creates in

1685.

-all the land from Maine to New Jersey into one colony.

-obedient under single ruler.

• Sir Edmund Andros, governor.

-antagonizes Puritans and merchants

The Glorious Revolution

• King is unpopular

-Catholic, disrespects Parliament.

• Parliament asserts power over monarch, 1689.

-crown Mary and William of Orange.

• Creates English Bill of Rights

In New England

• Mass. colonists arrest Gov. Andros and royal councilors.

• Parliament restores charters.• 1691, Mass. has royal gov.,

religious toleration.

Salutary Neglect

• Understanding between England and colonies.

-left alone if loyal economically. • Smuggling trails with English

judges, no juries.• Board of Trade monitors colonial

trade.

Seeds of Self-Government

• Gov: calls, disbands assembly; appoints judges; oversees trade.

• Assembly influences Gov. because they pay his salary.

• Colonists consider themselves British, but want self-rule.

Zenger Trial, 1735

• Printed article that criticized Gov. of New York.

• Charged with libel.

• Used “truth” as defense.

• Beginning of Amer. Freedom of Press.