Explain the reasons for the growth of representative government and institutions during the colonial period

Standards Alignment

• TEKS.113.20.03A primary
  explain the reasons for the growth of representative government and institutions during the colonial period;
• TEKS.113.20.03B primary
  analyze the importance of the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the Virginia House of Burgesses to the growth of representative government; and

Lesson Overview

This lesson explores the reasons for the growth of representative government and institutions during the colonial period in America. Students will analyze key documents and institutions such as the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the Virginia House of Burgesses to understand their importance in the development of representative government. The lesson aligns with TEKS standards and includes activities that engage students in interpreting historical sources and connecting colonial governance to modern democratic principles.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the reasons why representative government and institutions grew during the colonial period.
• Analyze the significance of the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the Virginia House of Burgesses in the growth of representative government.

Success Criteria

• Students can describe key reasons for the growth of representative government in the colonies.
• Students can explain how the Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and Virginia House of Burgesses contributed to representative government.
• Students can connect colonial government institutions to the foundations of the U.S. government.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should understand basic concepts of government, such as what a government does and the idea of representation. Familiarity with colonial America and early settlements will help.

Key Vocabulary

• Representative government
• Mayflower Compact
• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
• Virginia House of Burgesses
• Colonial period
• Institutions

Materials and Resources

• Maps of the 13 colonies
• Copies or excerpts of the Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and Virginia House of Burgesses documents
• Timeline chart
• Images or illustrations of colonial assemblies

Teacher Preparation

• Prepare copies of primary source excerpts for student analysis.
• Set up visuals such as maps and timelines to show colonial settlements and government development.
• Plan discussion questions to guide student thinking about the importance of early government documents.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Definition and Growth of Representative Government

Representative government is a system where citizens elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf. During the colonial period, settlers needed ways to govern themselves because they were far from England. This led to the growth of local governments and institutions where colonists could have a voice in laws and decisions affecting their communities.

Reasons for Growth of Representative Government in the Colonies

Several factors encouraged the growth of representative government: the distance from England made direct rule difficult; colonists wanted to protect their rights and property; economic interests required local decision-making; and the influence of English political traditions such as the Magna Carta and Parliament inspired colonists to seek representation.

The Mayflower Compact

Signed in 1620 by Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, this was an agreement to form a government and follow laws agreed upon by the settlers. It was important because it was one of the first examples of self-government and social contract in the colonies, showing colonists' willingness to govern themselves through mutual consent.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Adopted in 1639, these orders created a framework for government in Connecticut. It established a representative government with elected officials and is considered one of the first written constitutions. It showed how colonies could organize government with laws and elected leaders, influencing later American government structures.

The Virginia House of Burgesses

Established in 1619, it was the first representative assembly in the American colonies. Colonists elected representatives (burgesses) to make laws and decisions. This institution gave colonists experience in self-government and legislative processes, laying groundwork for democratic governance.

Connecting Colonial Institutions to U.S. Government Foundations

These early colonial governments introduced ideas of elected representation, rule of law, and consent of the governed. They influenced the development of the U.S. Constitution and democratic institutions by showing how people could govern themselves through representatives and written laws.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

Read the excerpts and work in groups to identify how each document or institution shows representative government.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: What is representative government?
2. Developing: Name one reason why representative government grew during the colonial period.
3. Application: How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut influence government?
4. Analysis: Compare the Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses in how they contributed to representative government.
5. Challenge: Explain how the growth of representative government during the colonial period influenced the U.S. Constitution.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. A system where people elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf.
2. 2. Because the colonies were far from England, colonists needed to govern themselves locally.
3. 3. They created a written framework for government with elected officials, showing how colonies could organize representative government.
4. 4. The Mayflower Compact was an agreement to self-govern by mutual consent, while the House of Burgesses was a formal elected assembly; both gave colonists a voice in government but in different ways.
5. 5. The colonial governments introduced ideas like elected representatives, rule of law, and consent of the governed, which became foundational principles in the U.S. Constitution.

Guiding Questions

• Why did colonists want to govern themselves?
• What is representative government?
• How did the Mayflower Compact influence colonial government?
• What did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut establish?
• Why was the Virginia House of Burgesses important?

Common Misconceptions

• Representative government means everyone votes on every decision (instead, representatives are elected to make decisions).
• The Mayflower Compact was a constitution for all colonies (it was specific to the Pilgrims).
• The Virginia House of Burgesses was a royal government body without colonial input (it was an elected assembly).

Differentiation

Assessment

• Group discussion on the importance of the Mayflower Compact.
• Exit ticket: Write one reason representative government grew in the colonies.
• Explain in one sentence why the Virginia House of Burgesses was important.
• Write an essay analyzing how the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut influenced American government.

Answer Guide

• What is representative government?
  Answer: A government where people elect representatives to make decisions for them.
• Why did representative government grow during the colonial period?
  Answer: Because colonists were far from England and wanted to protect their rights and manage local affairs.
• What was the Mayflower Compact?
  Answer: An agreement by Pilgrims to govern themselves by making laws together.
• What did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut establish?
  Answer: A written framework for a representative government with elected officials.
• What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?
  Answer: The first elected legislative assembly in the colonies where representatives made laws.

Real-Life Application

Ask students to interview a family member about how local government works today and share how it is similar or different from colonial governments.

Homework or Home Connection

• Ask students to interview a family member about how local government works today and share how it is similar or different from colonial governments.

Lesson Summary

During the colonial period, representative government grew because colonists needed to govern themselves due to distance from England and a desire to protect their rights. Key documents and institutions like the Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and Virginia House of Burgesses were important early examples of self-government. These colonial experiences laid the foundation for the democratic principles in the United States government today.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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