The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

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5) The Mayflower Compact of 1620 is considered an important step in the development ofdemocracy in America because it

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6) The Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses are examples of

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7) Many colonies objected to the Albany Plan of Union (1754) mainly because(1) the colonies had just been given representation in Parliament(2) the plan gave too much power to Native American Indians(3) threats to colonial safety had ended(4) colonial assemblies did not want to give up their individual power

8) The Virginia House of Burgesses was important to the development of democracy in thethirteen colonies because it

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9) During the early to mid-1700s, the British policy of salutary neglect toward the Americancolonies contributed to10) In its economic relationship with its North American colonies, Great Britain followed the

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principles of 18th-century mercantilism by

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The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

After his arrival in Jamestown in 1619, Governor George Yeardley immediately gave notice that the Virginia colony would establish a legislative assembly. This assembly, the General Assembly, first met on July 30, 1619.

Although many differences separated Spain and France from England, perhaps the factor that contributed most to distinct paths of colonization was the form of their government.

Spain and France had absolute monarchies, but Britain had a limited monarchy. In New France and New Spain, all authority flowed from the Crown to the settlers, with no input from below.

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An absolute monarchy is a state in which the monarch has sovereign power and controls all aspects of government without being checked by any representative assemblies.
A limited or constitutional monarchy is a state in which the power of the monarch is checked by other constitutionally sanctioned institutions, such as a representative assembly (e.g., the British Parliament).

The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

The English kings who ruled the 13 original colonies reserved the right to decide the fate of their colonies as well, but not alone. The colonists drew upon their claims to traditional English rights and insisted on raising their own representative assemblies. Such was the case with the Virginia House of Burgesses, the first popularly elected legislative body in the New World.


The Magna Carta

The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

The General Assembly (which later established the House of Burgesses), the first legislative assembly in the American colonies, held its first meeting in the choir at Jamestown Church in the summer of 1619. Its first order of business: setting a minimum price for the sale of tobacco.

English landowners had insisted on meeting with their leaders for consultation in local matters ever since the Magna Carta was signed in 1215. Virginia settlers expected that same right.

Modeled after the English Parliament, the General Assembly was established in 1619. In 1643 it became a bicameral body, establishing the House of Burgesses as one of its two chambers. Members would meet at least once a year with their royal governor to decide local laws and determine local taxation.

House of Burgesses

In April, 1619, Governor George Yeardley arrived in Virginia from England and announced that the Virginia Company had voted to abolish martial law and create a legislative assembly, known as the General Assembly — the first legislative assembly in the American colonies. The General Assembly first met on July 30, 1619, in the church at Jamestown. Present were Governor Yeardley, Council, and 22 burgesses representing 11 plantations (or settlements) Burgesses were elected representatives. Only white men who owned a specific amount of property were eligible to vote for Burgesses. In 1643, the General Assembly became a bicameral body, establishing the democratically-elected House of Burgesses as its lower house, while the royally-appointed Council of State served as the upper house of the legislature.

King James I, a believer in the divine right of monarchs, attempted to dissolve the assembly, but the Virginians would have none of it. They continued to meet on a yearly basis to decide local matters.

Democracy in Practice

What is the importance of a small legislative body formed so long ago? The tradition established by the House of Burgesses was extremely important to colonial development. Each new English colony demanded its own legislature in turn.

Historians often ponder why the American Revolution was successful. The French, Russian, and Chinese Revolutions each ended with a rise to power of a leader more autocratic than the pre-revolutionary monarch.

But starting with the Virginia General Assembly, Americans had 157 years to practice democracy. By the time of the Declaration of Independence, they were quite good at it.

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The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

James I
James I ruled England from 1603 to 1625 and fiercely believed in the divine right of kings, which was rejected by both Parliament and the Virginia Company colonists who formed the House of Burgesses. This Britannia website provides a brief biography of James I.

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Magna Carta
When Winston Churchill stated, "[H]ere is a law which is above the King," he was speaking of the Magna Carta. Colonists strongly believed that their rights and freedom as Englishmen lay in the Magna Carta. This website from the National Archives and Records administration offers a detailed history of this document as well as a link to a translation of the 1297 version.

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The First Legislative Assembly at Jamestown
The settlers of Jamestown, Virginia, recognized the unique situation and opportunity that lay before them in the early years of the 17th century. In 1619, 22 burgesses and Governor George Yeardley took part in the first legislative assembly of the American colonies. Their creation of the House of Burgesses later inspired the American Revolution and the subsequent creation of the United States. This website from the Colonial National Historical Park presents the people involved and the laws passed during this momentous event.

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Colonial History of Virginia: Formation of Government
Although Massachusetts and Pennsylvania often receive much of the credit for colonial and revolutionary politics and government, the United States owes a debt of gratitude to Virginia and the first legislative assembly, the House of Burgesses. This independent website examines the history of Virginia government and its role in American politics.

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An Ordinance and Constitution of the General Assembly, 1621
Although the House of Burgesses first convened in 1619, the measures taken by the assembly were worthless until ratified by the Virginia Company, the stockholders of the colony. Virginia was granted a written constitution in 1621 that ratified the actions of the General Assembly (House of Burgesses). The constitution also included an important provision that prohibited the Virginia Company from passing any laws without the approval of the Assembly. The primary document "An Ordinance and Constitution of the Virginia Company in England, July 24, 1621" is presented at this Yale University website.

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Burgesses of Prince William County
How were burgesses elected? Who constituted a citizen in colonial Virginia? This Prince William County website answers these questions and delves into the history of Virginia politics. Special attention is given to the Prince William representatives to the House of Burgesses.

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John Pory, "A Reporte of the Manner of Proceeding in the General Assembly Convented at James City"
As Secretary of Governor George Yeardley's Council of Estate, John Pory was responsible for recording the minutes of the first meeting of the House of Burgesses. His records, including the proceedings of the first Virginia Assembly in 1619, are part of the Library of Congress's Thomas Jefferson Papers collection. This website provides many letters and documents from this era, including John Pory's "A Reporte of the Manner of Proceeding in the General Assembly Convented at James City," which provides a unique perspective on this historical event.

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The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy
The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy

Why were the Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses important?

The Mayflower Compact of 1620-a governing plan for the Massachusetts colony-followed the Greek traditions of direct democracy and majority agreement in making laws. The House of Burgesses influenced the founders to establish a representative system of government that met to debate issues, make laws, and pass taxes.

Why was the Mayflower Compact important for democracy?

Why Was the Mayflower Compact Important? The Mayflower Compact was important because it was the first document to establish self-government in the New World. It remained active until 1691 when Plymouth Colony became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Why is the Mayflower Compact important to the concept of a democratic society quizlet?

The Mayflower compact is important to the concept of a democratic society because it represents ... A clear step toward self-government. The British system of mercantilism was opposed by many American colonists because it ... Discouraged the export of raw materials to England.

Why is the Mayflower Compact considered an important step in the development of American democracy quizlet?

Why is the Mayflower compact considered an important step in the development of American democracy? It provided a basis for self-government in the Plymouth Colony.