Dr. Kevin Lasher

POL 101: U.S. Government

Colonial Period (1607-1776)

Colonial Period (1607-1776)

Virginia in 1607; Georgia in 1732 Colonies “belonged” to British

empire 85% of free settlers from Great

Britain (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales)

Colonial Governments

Governor appointed by British King

Judges appointed by British King

Legislatures elected by 20-40% of white, male citizens; legislatures had good deal of power

Colonial Governments

Colonial governments (legislatures) had good deal of “freedom” from British home rule

Salutary neglect

British Mercantilism

Great Britain would control trade between itself and colonies

Colonial economy should “serve” the Mother Country

Incomplete mercantilism during period of salutary neglect

American Character

British colonists were becoming Americans (a long process)

Freedom, social mobility, small farmers, early republicanism

Still thirteen “mini-counties” in 1775

Period of “Salutary Neglect” 1650 (?) - 1763

Mother country Great Britain did not have as much as control over its colonies as it would have preferred

Civil war at home, war in Europe, distance, economic benefits

Partly intentional policy

Period of “Salutary Neglect” American colonies (especially

governing elites) had a good deal of freedom during this formative period

American colonists “liked” this arrangement very much; did not want it to end

End of “Salutary Neglect” in 1763

End of French-Indian War (1763) in North America

Rising British costs of protecting colonies Mother country should exercise “control”

End of “Salutary Neglect”

Series of taxes imposed to raise money for administration of colonies

Enforce mercantilism Curtail “freedom” of colonies

Period of Growing Tension

1763-1775 Long, difficult process Revolutionary War

begins in 1775