2.4 Southern Colonies Explore Page 6

2.4 Southern Colonies Explore Page 6

Steps Toward a Representative Government

How did the Southern Colonies help to develop a representative government?

In 1619, Virginia created the first lawmaking group that represented citizens in colonial America. This group was called the House of Burgesses. The first meeting included two representatives, called burgesses, from each of Virginia’s 11 boroughs or counties. The burgesses were selected in local elections. Only male landowners had the right to vote in these elections.

Multiple Choice

What was the first lawmaking group that represented citizens called?

• House of Burgesses

• Senate

• House of Representatives

• Congress

Multiple Choice

How many representatives from each county were burgesses?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• it depended on the size of the county

Multiple Choice

Burgesses were selected by the governor.

• True

• False

The House of Burgesses met in Jamestown, which was the capital of the Virginia colony. This group wrote laws for the colony. However, the governor had the right to block these laws. After 1625, the English government became less involved with colonial life and business. As a result, the House of Burgesses began managing all of the government decisions of Virginia.

Multiple Choice

In what town did the House of Burgesses meet?

• Williamsburg

• Roanoke

• Jamestown

• Philadelphia

Multiple Choice

The groups main job was to ____________________

• enforce laws

• write laws

Multiple Choice

Who had the power to block the laws that were written by the House of Burgesses?

• the governor

• the King of England

• the colonial people

In 1676, some of Virginia’s colonists rebelled against the government of the colony. This action was led by Nathaniel Bacon. Bacon and his followers were angry with Virginia’s governor, William Berkeley. They claimed that he refused to help stop Native American raids on western settlements. Bacon and his followers also thought the governor was guilty of granting special favors to his friends. Bacon died later that year. But Bacon’s Rebellion resulted in some important changes. 

 It led to the removal of Berkeley and to government reforms known as Bacon’s Laws. To reform government means to fix weaknesses and make it work better. Bacon’s Laws included limiting the term of office of sheriff to one year. It also made the office of justice of the peace an elected position.

Multiple Choice

Who led the rebellion against the government of the colony?

• William Berkeley

• King George I

• Nathaniel Bacon

Multiple Choice

Bacon and his followers were angry with the governor because___

• he was granting favors to his friends

• he refused to stop Native American raids

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Bacon's Rebellion led to government reforms called ______

• Colonial freedoms

• Native American Protection Act

• Bacon's Laws

Multiple Choice

Bacon's Laws limited the term of office sheriff and made the ______ an elected position.

• office of justice of the peace

• town mayor

• governor

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to reform government?

• fix it and make it better

• keep things the same

• have stronger punishments

The Southern Colonies included the entire southeast coast of North America except for Florida. Many of the colonies in the region practiced some form of democracy. People voted and shared in the work of government. However, not everyone benefitted from these practices. Enslaved people, women, and white men who did not own land had little or no say in the colonial governments. Slavery would become common in the South. It would also cause conflict for people living in the United States.

Multiple Choice

The Southern Colonies included the entire southeast coast except for _________.

• Virginia

• Georgia

• North Carolina

• Florida

Multiple Choice

Many of the colonies practiced some form of democracy.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Enslaved people, women, and _______________ had little or no say in colonial governments.

• voted representatives

• white men who did not own land

• the burgesses