Period 2
09/2/13
Virginia House of Burgesses Virginia House of Burgesses was one of the foundations to our American government. Politically it created a form of governing that is still in some ways used today . Socially this political group changed the way people think how a community could be ran by officials. Also, the creation of this allowed religion to not be the major key point in governing Colonial America but the focus was more on the people. In 1619, two burgesses were assigned to one colony or county and in total this group consisted of twenty-two men. Every so often these men would come together and report to each other and establish laws and taxes that the people would have to follow. Like in today's legislation, we have representatives that represent each state and the number of people who represent depends on the population of each state. The representatives also come together and meet to discuss laws and represent each state to the group. This is very similar to the form of government in the 1600's which is still alive in today's government. Before Colonial America everything was decided by the king and his nobles which never gave the citizens a say in anything that went on through the government. But as a results of the House of Burgesses land owning men in each county were allowed to vote and voice their opinion about taxation and laws that were passed. This made a complete new outlook on how people could be governed. Later on in America freedom became an essential right to the people which is what this has all stared. This unique way of order stayed throughout American history until today. Religion was always the main focus in every government and country back in monarchy times. But when they organized the Virginia House of Burgesses it wasn’t such much that way. God was a part of their lives and they talked about their religion but ultimately it was not mentioned in every law and it wasn’t a major concern. Their discussions was more on the people and how to benefit society not who has more power and the most money. So the significance of the Virginia House of Burgesses is that it created a new form of government, it transformed the way people think how a society should be ran, and the people in each society were the main focus to the burgesses rather than religion. All These factors had stayed throughout American history which is why this first form of democracy is such a legacy.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Notes on the States of Virginia was the full length book written by Thomas Jefferson in 1781, during the American revolutionary war. In 1780, the secretary of the French legation to the United States “Francois Marbois” had drawn up 22 questions wishing to collect information on each of the 13 states to answer to his superiors. Those questions were sent to several possible informants including Joseph Jones, who at that time a member of congressional delegation. He had written the original questionnaire in his own hand writing and had given it to Thomas Jefferson; the second governor of Virginia who he had thought was the best person to answer all of the complicated questions about the beloved state. Joseph Jones knew about this Virginian’s knowledge and passion about the largest of the 13 original states. Jefferson rearranged Marboi’s 22 queries into the 23 queries and conducts his readers from a discussion of geography of Virginia through the state’s civilization.…
- 1092 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
These small systems of colonist rule within the English colonies established the foundations of a representative government. Running the Virginia Bay Colony along the Chesapeake Bay sparked the need for a system of rule. The joint stock company allowed the colonists to establish the House of Burgesses to encourage labor in the Americas. This miniature parliament was later recognized as a threat to the mother country as they saw it as a “seminary of sedition”, a start of a separate rule from England. While the House of Burgesses fell into the English crown’s control, it still formed a representative government where many of members and the elected governors were in charge of…
- 504 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In the beginning of the American colonies, the people started creating new ways of government. One of these ways was democracy. The colonies were democratic because they began allowing the citizens to have a say in government (Doc 3). If the people did not like how their government was run they could produce their own ideas and could question the leaders if they were wronged. Colonists were able to vote for people to represent them or their area in a legislature (Doc 6). Christians in the colonies were starting to receive freedom of religion as well (Doc 1).…
- 384 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The most important people meet here at least once a year to decide rules, laws, and determined local taxation. The House of Burgesses united in 161 and heir first order of business was to put a minimum price on tobacco. This group did so much that helped America and it is all because of the Capitol. To sum up, the House of Burgesses people were like the president and they talked, about a bunch of important issues and did not give up until they reached were they needed to be. Let’s talk a little more about what those House of Burgesses did. They also wrote documents. Although some documents aren’t as famous, but this one is extremely famous. It was the proclamation of 1763. Although this document wasn’t made by the House of Burgesses. It was made by King James. Although some documents this group wrote were, The Declaration Independence, the Virginia statue of religious freedom, and many others. The documents changed a lot. It was very essential and without it many problems would have occurred. One of the documents not written by the House of Burgesses was the proclamation of 1763. This stated that no 13 colonies could buy any land west of the Appalachian Divide. This document theoretically made the Native Americans cool down a little and not attack the whites as much and hoped to stop the Indians rampage. This building helped us learn a tremendous amount.…
- 666 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
As Billings states, “Although the assembly would undergo modification in its functions, and its right to exist would be in doubt after the company lost its charter; that first meeting established a precedent for the evolution of representative political institutions and self-government in English North America”. (Billings 12) This new government consisted of Two Supreme councils. One included the governor and company -appointed Council of State. The other consisted of two Burgesses from every town, hundred or other particular Plantation to be respectively chosen by the inhabitants. (Document 1) These two councils were to establish and maintain the general laws that enabled their ability to grow the colony in an obedient…
- 474 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
At this time there were 13 states and each had one representative, elected annually and serving a year long term. Their time in office was limited to no more than three out of every six years. Members were appointed by the state legislatures. Any debates that were presented to the…
- 596 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In order to make and establish the laws, the colonists needed to first form their own type of government because they could not rely on the British to make or even enforce their laws from such a far ways away. A change from what the colonists were used to was formed as a result of this. Instead of having to suffer under a malicious monarchy such as they did in England, the settlers wanted to establish a democracy in which wealthy and poor people alike had a say and choice of what to do. This idea of democracy is what is still present in America today and it is thriving unlike other countries whose government is completely controlled by one man or a selective group alone. It is thriving because everyone has a voice on the matters at hand and this voice is ultimately what leads to the formation of laws that benefit the majority of people in the country on a positive aspect. The first step the colonists took in order to achieve democracy, was to set up the House of Burgesses in 1619. This was established in Jamestown and was for a while the lone government.…
- 949 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
While the colonists were treated by Great Britain as minor children or as subjects to be governed, the very new sets of colonies were making their own establishments in the realms of self-government. Colonial self-government ranged on a grand scale from things such as town meetings and councils, to public assemblies and courts. From these assemblies, great leaders and political minds hosted thoughts and brought together a sort of regulation for what early America was to look like in its future. This process, of course, took time and went through a great amount of changes from the first settlers to the Revolutionary period.…
- 822 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
While America was in its infancy, the people awkwardly tried to made sense of the freedom they had come to poses. Those considered elites worked to build a government that was both successful and capable of keeping the peace, while citizens found themselves still in the fight for freedom. The economy was in shambles after the revolution, and the elites were rising up to set forth a government better than the monarchy they left. The Strong central government began to come into place, but the states felt their freedom was being choked in the process. The American people began to resist the stronghold of government, resulting in events like the whiskey rebellion, the Virginia and Kentucky resolution, and the Northwest ordinance (Sheflin, Early National Period).…
- 520 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
John Winthrop, the man who set this goal for the Puritans, used God as a way to form a close-knit society. Winthrop felt that closeness in a community was very important in order to work closely together. (Doc A) Since God was so influential in this situation, then it must have been important for Him to be a bigger part of their society: their government. This led to the development of a theocracy. The “closeness” that Winthrop spoke of was very true in the theocratic government, because ministers were protected, and the church members worked closely with each other. Together, they placed harsh requirements upon the people of Puritan New England. They had to attend church services, pay taxes to support the church, and were therefore bound to the church not just through religion, but also through the government. Their loyalty was also expected by the church. The people could in no form offend the church, they promised to study the gospels, spread their knowledge of Him to their children, and most importantly, acknowledged His power: “…and all this not by any strength of our own, but by the Lord Christ” (Doc C). Because it was assumed that any material success by the people…
- 1126 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
In this reassessment of the colonial experience in Virginia and Maryland, one defining factor of a society has been forgotten, religion. Does religion not form an important basis for understanding a society? Were the English strictly profit-driven? One could argue that the religious experience of those in the Chesapeake is overshadowed by the religious narrative of the people who settle around the Massachusetts Bay. Religion in the Chesapeake and the influence of religious changes in England can be overlooked. Taylor mentions in passing the unique conglomerate of Anglicans, Catholics, and nonconformists that settle in Maryland, but does not provide details. One important source to consider is the 1649 Toleration Act. This act appears…
- 282 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. The reasons for this distinct development were mostly based on the type on people from England who chose to settle in the two areas, and on the manner in which the areas were settled. <br><br>New England was a refuge for religious separatists leaving England, while people who immigrated to the Chesapeake region had no religious motives. As a result, New England formed a much more religious society then the Chesapeake region. John Winthrop states that their goal was to form "a city upon a hill", which represented a "pure" community, where Christianity would be pursued in the most correct manner. Both the Pilgrims and the Puritans were very religious people. In both cases, the local government was controlled by the same people who controlled the church, and the bible was the basis for all laws and regulations. From the Article of Agreement, Springfield, Massachusetts it is clear that religion was the basis for general laws. It uses the phrase "being by God's providence engaged together to make a plantation", showing that everything was done in God's name. The Wage and Price Regulations in Connecticut is an example of common laws being justified by the bible. Also in this document the word "community " is emphasized, just as Winthrop emphasizes it saying: "we must be knit together in this work as one man". The immigrants to New England formed very family and religiously oriented communities. Looking at the emigrant lists of people bound for New England it is easy to observe that most people came in large families, and large families support the community atmosphere. There were many children among the emigrants, and those children were taught religion from their early childhood, and therefore grew up loyal to the church, and easily controllable by the same. Any deviants from the regime were silenced or…
- 729 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The House of Burgesses was the first legislative assembly of elected representatives in British North America. The Virginia General Assembly was organized by the colonists of Virginia in late 1619 and at the first meeting of assembly the House of Burgesses was created. At the first meeting colonists' land rights and trade was organized, the Church of England was named the established religion of Virginia, laws pertaining to morals about gambling, swearing, and other problems were created, and they settled disputes among the colonists. It was made up of 22 burgesses from varied plantations and villages. King James I of England sent a charter to the colonists that allowed self-government so long as the Virginia Company was able to keep control…
- 193 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Religion was very important to these people and their beliefs transpired into their work. We see the dramatic sense of this in James Parton’s document entitled, “The Presidential Election of 1800” when Parton writes, “Religion, for the first and last time, was an important element in the political strife of 1800.” The citizens respected a higher power in their lives and directed that respect toward politicians who respected and believed in God. Paton also writes that Hamilton tried to persuade people to vote against Jefferson because he did not believe in a god when he says, “Mr. Jefferson, on the contrary, was denounced by the pious and moral Hamilton as “an atheist.”…
- 1292 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Great colonies need great governments. The political structure in all colonial regions were similar and different. All of the colonies had governments, and governors leaded these governments. Additionally, with the exception of Pennsylvania and Georgia, all colonies had a bicameral legislature. Another similarity between the colonies was that only white males with property could vote. Although the colonies were similar in many political ways they were also very different. In New England, township government was the local form of government since everyone was so close. However, in the Southern colonies, county government was used since everyone was spread so far apart. The Middle colonies used a mix of…
- 578 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays