Colonists and Self-Government

Colonists expected the right to self-govern because of past experiences and documents created many years earlier.

In 1215, a document called the Magna Carta was created, which limited the power of the government. It stated that the power of the monarch was limited, not absolute. This paper, along with the English Bill of Rights, set limits on what the government could do. These documents provided protection against unjust punishment and loss of both life and property. The English Bill of Rights implied that the monarch must have parliament’s consent to suspend laws, levy taxes, and maintain an army, among other things. It also stated that people had the right to petition the government. This helped the English colonists create a more democratic system when they settled in America.

            John Locke was a very popular English philosopher, and influenced the political outlook of the colonists. He said all people were born equal, and that they had the right to petition the government. Locke believed people were not obligated to obey their rulers. His ideas were revolutionary, and some of them rubbed off on Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and other colonial leaders.

            From nearly the start of the settlements in America, a form of democracy was interlaced within the colonies. Although slaves and women could not vote, and religion was still a massive part of the government in some colonies, it was still a look into what the future held for the government. The Mayflower Compact was one of the first colonial plans for self-government. They realized they needed rules if they were going to survive, and this sort of planning continued as the American population began to grow. More documents were created, much influenced by The English Bill of Rights. Each colony had a legislature, and helped create new laws to make life better. These forms of government were important because the colonies were so far away from England, and it would take months to get word back from the king stating what they should do.

            Colonists continued to grow and strengthen their government thanks to the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and John Locke’s influence on their political views.