This document summarizes several important colonial documents that influenced the development of self-government in the American colonies: The First Virginia Charter granted the Virginia Company authority to govern its own colony, setting a precedent where the king delegated power to others. The Mayflower Compact established the first governing agreement and basis for law in the Plymouth colony. The Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony allowed Puritans to control the colony by bringing the charter with them from England. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut established the first written constitution and the idea that governmental authority comes from the consent of the people, not outside powers like the king. Finally, the Maryland Toleration Act protected freedom of religion by allowing Catholics to practice without persecution.

1. BELL RINGER
Study for Quiz:
Geography of the 13 original colonies
Daily life in the colonies

2. COLONIAL
DOCUMENTS
Essential Question: How did important colonial documents
influence the idea of self-government in the colonies?

3. Self-government
• Self government is when a country is governed by its own people, especially
after having been a colony
• The men that led the American revolt against England drew many of their
ideas for self-government from Enlightenment thinkers that said rulers gain
their authority through the consent of the governed.
• The founders also relied on the ideas expressed in several documents written
during the colonial period.

4. The First Virginia Charter
• Issued in 1606 by King James I
• Granted the Virginia Company
the authority to govern its own
colony
• The Result: the king delegated
some of his power to others

5. The Mayflower Compact
• Signed on Nov. 21, 1620
• It was an agreement to form
a temporary government
and be bound by its laws.
• Became the basis of
government in the
Plymouth colony.

6. Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Issued to the Massachusetts Bay
Company by King Charles I in 1629
• The actual charter was supposed to
stay in England, but a group of
Puritans brought it with them so they
could retain control of the company.
• The charter became the constitution
of the colony.

7. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
• Written in 1639, it is the first written
constitution that established a
government.
• Based on Thomas Hooker's sermon
that "the foundation of authority is
laid in the free consent of the people."
• Contained no reference to any
governmental authority outside of
Connecticut, including the king.

8. New England Articles of Confederation
• The New England Confederation was
a union between Connecticut, New
Haven, Massachusetts Bay, and
Plymouth colonies in 1643.
• It was not a centralized government.
• The purpose was to provide defense
for the colonies from the Indians,
French, and Dutch.

9. The Maryland Toleration Act
• Maryland was founded by Catholics,
but Protestants soon became the
majority of the population.
• The Maryland Toleration Act of 1649
was enacted to protect Catholics from
persecution.
• Set a precedent for free exercise of
religion.

10. Summarizer
Document Importance
First Virginia Charter
Mayflower Compact
Charter of Massachusetts
Bay Colony
Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut
New England Articles of
Condfederation
Maryland Toleration Act

11. Bell Ringer-Day 2
What values are necessary in order to have
a free and democratic society?

12. Activity
With your partner, take the next 20 minutes to read through the document
excerpts and complete the graphic organizer with textual evidence of each
document's importance. A class discussion will follow.