American constitution, and was signed by 41 persons. It was in substance a pure democracy. The company, including women and children, amounted to 101. They proceeded to examine the coast, and finally determined to settle at a place which was called New Plymouth. Exhausted by the fatigues of the sea, and suffering from a want of suitable provisions and shelter, nearly one half of their number died within four months after their landing. They continued for ten years to hold their goods and property in common, when they obtained from the company a grant of the land which they had before held only by occupancy. At this time their number did not exceed three hundred. For many years they continued a mere voluntary association, governed by laws and magistrates formed and chosen by themselves, until they were incorporated with Massachusetts, in 1692.

In 1628, the Massachusetts colony was settled by a company incorporated by royal charter, the land having been previously purchased from the Plymouth company. In 1630, the government of the colony was transferred to Massachusetts, by a vote of the company. A few years later, the freemen adopted the plan of acting by delegates or representatives, and the charter of a trading company was converted into the constitution of a commonwealth, This unauthorized assumption of power, as well as their religious principles, rendered the Puritans obnoxious to the court party at home, and led the Plymouth company

the nature of this compact? Where did they finally determine to settle? What was the number of the colonists? How many died within the first four months? When did they obtain a grant of the land! How had they until then held their property? What was their present number? When were they incorporated with Massachusetts?

What

When and by whom was Massachusetts colony settled? is said of its early government? What led the Plymouth company

to resign their charter to the king; and Massachusetts, like Virginia, was taken into royal hands. But such was the disturbed state of England, that these distant and insignificant colonies attracted little notice, and were left to grow up in habits of self-government, their numbers at the same time increasing by emigrations of such as were unsuccessful in the civil strifes at home. The persecuted Puritans fled to New England; the Catholics to Maryland; and the defeated royalists to Virginia.

New York was settled by the Dutch in 1614, and was held by them fifty years. It was, however, claimed by England, having been discovered by Henry Hudson, in 1608, who entered the bay of New York, and sailed up the river to latitude 43 degrees north. He did not attempt to land and form a settlement, contenting himself with claiming the country for his sovereign, Henry VII., by right of discovery. The English asserted that Hudson was employed by their government, and that he sold the country to the Dutch without authority. The Dutch maintained that he was in the service of the Dutch East India company at the time, and made their settlements without interruption for many years. In 1664, the colony was occupied by the English; and the territory now comprising New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and a part of Connecticut, was granted by Charles the Second to his brother, the Duke of York. New Jersey was settled by the Dutch, in 1624, and occupied

to resign their charter? In what habits did the colonies grow up? By whom were their numbers increased?

By whom was New York settled? How long was it held by the Dutch? Who claimed it? By whom was it discovered? On what ground did the Dutch and English respectively maintain their claims? When was the colony taken by the English? What territory was granted by Charles the Second to his brother? Give the dates of the settlement of the other colonies.

by the English in 1664. New Hampshire was first settled in 1623, at Dover and Portsmouth. Delaware was settled by the Dutch in 1627, and occupied by the English in 1664. Some Swedes settled here in 1638, but they were conquered by the Dutch, and most of them left the country. Maine was settled in 1630, and united with Massachusetts in 1677. Maryland was settled in 1633, and was the first colony that was governed directly as a province of the British empire. Its founder was Sir George Calvert, a Roman Catholic nobleman. He obtained a grant of the lands from Charles the First. New Haven, settled in 1637, was united with Connecticut in

1662. 1632.

Connecticut was settled from Massachusetts in

CHAPTER II.

Forms of Government-Causes of the Revolution-Commencement of Hostilities.

Of the forms of government which prevailed in the colonies, there were three-the charter, the royal, and the proprietary governments.

1. The charter governments were those of New England. The people were entitled to the privileges of natural born subjects. They elected their own governors and legislative assemblies, and established courts of justice, and in some points even exceeded the powers conferred by the charters. The only limitation to their legislative

What forms of government prevailed in the colonies? In what section of the country were the charter governments? What privi

power was, that their laws should not be contrary to those of England. The crown claimed the right to revoke these charters; but the colonists maintained that they were solemn compacts, and that they could not be revoked without cause. The charters were sometimes declared forfeited, or forcibly taken away; and the disputes to which this question gave rise, between the mother country and the charter governments, were one of the causes of the revolution.

2. The royal governments were those of Virginia, New York, and, at a later period, the Carolinas, (1728,) and the Jerseys, (1702.) In these colonies, the governor and council were appointed by the crown, and the representatives to the colonial assemblies were chosen by the colonists. The governor obeyed the instructions of the erown, and had a negative power on the proceedings of the legislature, which was composed of the council and assemblies. The judges and most of the officers were also appointed by the king, although, in many cases, paid by the colony. The arbitrary acts of the governors, and the royal claim to an absolute veto on the acts of the assemblies, became sources of much discontent, as the exercise of these powers was virtually taking from the people the right to participate in the government.

3. The proprietary governments were those of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and, at first, those of the Carolinas and the Jerseys. These colonies were in the hands of proprietors or individuals, to whom grants of land had been made by the crown, with authority to establish civil

leges had the people under these governments? Where did the royal governments prevail? How were the several branches of these governments appointed? Why were these governments called royal? What caused discontent? What is meant by a negative power, or veto?

Where were the proprietary governments established? Why

1

governments and make laws, under certain restrictions, in favor of the crown. The proprietors had power to repeal or negative the acts of the assemblies; and the exercise of this power became a source of continual quarrels between the people and the proprietors. In 1719, the people of Carolina took the government into their own hands. The governor, council and assembly, were all elected by the people. A declaration of independence was published, setting forth the causes of their renunciation of the former government, and signed by all the members of the new government. The oldest laws of the Virginia assembly, (1624,) comprise a declaration defining the power of the governor and the assembly, and asserting the privileges of the people in regard to taxes and personal services. At an early period in the existence of the New England colonies, (1643,) a confederation was formed between them for mutual offence and defence, leaving to each colony its own government, while the common officers of the confederacy were managed by a congress, consisting of two commissioners from each colony.

As early as the seventeenth century, the question of taxation became a subject of common interest in the colonies. The colonists disputed the right of parliament to tax the colonies. It was believed that the power of the` British government extended only to the regulation of trade. Having surmounted the hardships and difficulties which attended their first establishment, and having made considerable advances in commerce and manufactures, the freedom of commerce which they had so long enjoyed

were they called proprietary? What power had the proprietors? What change took place in the government of Carolina in 1719 ? When did the question of taxation arise? What were the views of the colonists on this subject? How was their trade affected?