Characteristics Of Colonial Government

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The second similarity was the colonies government.The governments were formed in different ways and with various set ups. Each colony was set up in a way so that by the mid 1700s, they had a strong capacity for self-government and held local elections.The British government controlled its colonies under a mercantilist system which held back the imports and encouraged the exports.Colonists became frustrated with this unfair economic system. It benefited the British and a thing of taxation without representation. The middle colonies were ruled by the British monarchy until William Penn had land given to him by the throne and formed Pennsylvania. Voters had to be Christian, and anyone wishing to hold office, but the local government did not force settlers to attend church or to pay taxes to support the church.Penn was free to rule his colony, and only answered to the king of England. He developed a colonial council was made of landowners that payed taxes and that had the power to develop laws . Its members had the authority to reject or approve laws made by the council. The southern colonies were ruled by legislative body in America called the House of Burgesses.Representatives from each region in the colony were selected by their people to form the lower house.the Counties were established to provide …show more content…

The next class was the middle classes,and these men could vote along with owning small businesses.Thirdly there is a lower class along with the poor whites in the same category,and they could not vote along with them not being that skilled.The fourth class was the convicts and servants, and they could not vote nor did they have many rights at all.Lastly is the slaves and they had no

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