Oklahoma Academic Standard 2.The student will compare the developments of the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies.

Objective 5.2.4  Analyze the forms of self-government in the three colonial regions including the role of religion in the establishment of some colonial governments, the Virginia House of Burgesses, and New England town hall meetings.

In a Nutshell

Students should understand that each colonial region was established under various forms and degrees of self-government. Some colonies operated under charters which guaranteed English rights in America. In other colonies, House of Burgesses were established in which white male landowners could participate in a degree of self-rule. Still other colonial governments operated according to local town meetings and their elected representatives. Students should also understand the role of religion as the foundation for many colonial and local governments, in which public law was based on religious beliefs and practices.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Assist students in describing  the similarities and differences between the various forms of self-government in the colonies.

• Aid students in explaining how the religious beliefs of the colonists influenced the political process of government developed in the colonies. 

• Compare perspectives of groups that came to colonize the British colonies and how religion affected local  governments.

• Explain the similarities and differences of  government in the three colonial regions. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• religious influences of government, ideas of self-government and citizenry as the source of government power, representative government, limited forms of self-government in the colonies

• comparison of colonial forms of government (charter, royal, proprietary) and relationship with British crown

• political rights of landowners versus other members of society

• comparison of the House of Burgesses and New England forms of self-government 

• Some students may mistakenly assume that because some early immigrants sought religious freedoms that colonial government and religious affairs were totally separated in the colonies. 

• Some students may assume that colonists experienced absolute control under the British crown and Parliament, as opposed to the reality of various forms of self-rule in colonial governments. 

Instructional Resources