1. 23-09-13
England’s Effects on the Colonies Governments
During the 1600’s when colonies were setting up their government, settlers looked to England
for an example. The governments of the colonies were strongly affected by England’s principles of
government. English beliefs, like representative government were used in the foundation of the
governments in the colonies.
The English believed in a representative government. Settlers also believed that a representative
government was a good way to govern people. Using a representative government in the colonies gave
people the right to vote, which gave the people more of a say in government, which is what the
colonists waned. In the “New World” there were three types of colonies – one, charter colonies, two
royal colonies, and three proprietary colonies. All three had some sort of representative government.
The English Bill of Rights was a document that the government used to sort out the basic rights
of people under the English government had. The bill included the basic rights of life, liberty, and
property. These basic rights were exercised and protected strongly in the colonies. Sometime around
the 1600’s England’s people had earned several rights including the right to be trialed by a jury. In the
colonies many had earned the same several rights. And in England those rights were to be protected by
the government.

2. The government of England created the Magna Carta to protect the basic rights of citizens. The
Magna Carta ideals such as free speech , and free press were applied to government throughout the
colonies. The colonists also had the right to be trialed by a jury and no unjust punishment.
England’s Ideals of representative government, freedom of speech and free press affected the
foundation of the colonies government and eventually the United States government.