Calvert, a Roman catholic nobleman. Rhode Island was settled in 1636. Connecticut was settled from Massachusetts in 1632. New Haven, settled in 1637, was united with Connecticut in 1662. North and South Carolina were settled about the year 1660. Pennsylvania was founded as a colony by William Penn in 1681. Georgia was settled in 1732.

§ 152. Of the forms of government which prevailed in the colonies, there were three; the charter, the royal or provincial, and the proprietary governments. The charter governments were those of New England. These charters, or grants of the crown, conferred on the colonists, not only a right to the soil, but also 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 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, constituted one of the causes of the revolution.

§ 153. 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 crown, 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

§ 152. What forms of government prevailed in the colonies? What were the charter governments? Describe them. § 153. Where were

powers was virtually taking from the people the right to participate in the government.

§154. The proprietary governments were those of Mary. land, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 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 governments and make laws, under certain restrictions. The proprietors appointed the governor; and they had power to repeal or negative the acts of the assemblies: and the exercise of this power was a source of continual quarrels between the people and the proprietors.

§ 155. In 1719, the people of Carolina took the govern. ment 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 renouncing 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.

§ 156. 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 affairs of the confederacy were managed by a congress, consisting of two commissioners from each colony.

the royal governments? Describe them. § 154. Where were the proprietary governments? Describe them. § 155, 156. What occur rences took place in the years 1719, 1624, and 1643 ?

CHAPTER II.

Causes of the Revolution-Independence declared-Confed eration-Adoption of the Constitution.

157. 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 consider. able advances in commerce and manufactures, the freedom of commerce which they had so long enjoyed began to be interrupted. Their trade was restricted by the imposition of unjust taxes for the benefit of the mother country.

§ 158. By the act of 1651, none but British or colonial vessels were allowed to participate in the export and import trade. Another act, passed in 1660, enacted that certain articles should not be exported directly from the colonies to any foreign country; thus compelling the colonists to sell their produce in no other than British markets. It was next provided, (in 1663,) that they should buy such foreign articles as they needed entirely of the merchants and manufacturers of England. Duties were even imposed on certain colonial products transported from one colony to another.

§ 159. All attempts to manufacture such articles as the mother country could provide, were discouraged. In 1699, it was enacted, that no wool, yarn, or woollen manufactures, should be exported from the American colonies; and in 1750, every slitting or rolling mill, plating forge to work with a tilt hammer, or other machinery, was declared to be a common nuisance, which the governors were directed to cause to be abated. It is true, however, that many of these and similar acts of parliament were openly disobeyed or se

§ 157. What important question arose in the seventeenth century? 158. What were the objects and effects of the respective acts of 1651, 1660, and 1663? § 159. What was the object of the act of 1699? What occurred in 1750? § 160. Were measures taken to

cretly evaded, being considered by the colonists as violations of their rights.

§ 160. Measures were at length taken by the ministry, not only to enforce such acts, but to raise a revenue in America by internal taxation. In 1765, the obnoxious stamp act was passed, by which obligations in writing in daily use were to be null and void, unless they were executed on a paper or parchment stamped with a specific duty. Newspapers, almanacs, and pamphlets, printed in America, were to be made to contribute to the British treasury. About the same time, a bill was brought in authorizing the quartering of troops in the colonies.

§ 161. As might have been expected, the colonists were unwilling to submit to these acts and measures. A general congress, the first of the kind, was held at New York, which adopted a declaration of rights and grievances, asserting taxation by themselves, and trial by jury, to be inherent rights of British subjects in the colonies. The colonial assemblies adopted similar measures; meetings of the people were held; and the whole country was set in a flame.

§ 162. So violent was the opposition to the stamp act, that on the first of November, the day on which the act was to have taken effect, neither stamps nor officers were to be found! In this state of affairs, the act was repealed, (March, 1766.) At the same time, by a declaratory act, parliament asserted the right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. In 1767, a bill was passed imposing a duty on glass, paper, paints, and tea, imported into the colonies; and troops were quartered in Boston to enforce obedience.

§ 163. But combinations having been formed by the Americans against the importation of these articles, the act was repealed, March, 1770, the duty on tea alone being continued. Accordingly the colonists renounced the use of that article, or obtained it from other countries: in consequence of which, an act was passed in 1773, allowing a drawback

enforce these acts? What act was passed in 1765? § 161. How did the colonists regard these acts? Where was the first congress held? What measure was adopted? § 162. When was the stamp act repealed? What did parliament declare at the same time? What bill was passed in 1767? § 163. What caused the repeal of this act?

on tea exported to America, for the purpose of rendering it cheaper, and inducing the Americans to submit to the smal duty imposed upon it. Large shipments of tea were accordingly made; but in New York and Philadelphia the vessels were not allowed to land their cargoes; in Charleston it was stored, but not permitted to be offered for sale; and in Boston, after several unsuccessful attempts to prevent its being landed, a party of men, disguised as Indians, boarded the tea ships, and threw the tea overboard. This occurred December 16, 1773.

§ 164. In the following spring, by an act of parliament, called the Boston port bill, passed March 17, 1774, the port of Boston was closed, and the landing and shipping of goods were ordered to be discontinued. The custom-house and trade, and the session of the court, were removed to Salem, and the charter altered, taking the whole executive government from the people, and vesting the appointment of the important officers in the crown. It was also enacted, that a person indicted for a capital offence, committed in aiding the magistrates, might be sent to Great Britain for trial. In the same year, general Gage, the British commander-inchief, and governor of Massachusetts, arrived in Boston to enforce the Bostonians into a compliance to the oppressive acts of parliament.

§ 165. In this crisis, the other colonies made common cause with Massachusetts. Deputies from most of the colonies met in congress at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. Congress published a declaration of rights, protesting against the right of Great Britain to tax the colonies, or to interfere in their internal policy; with a statement of grievances, declaring the late acts of parliament to be violations of the rights of the colonists. They next proceeded to interrupt all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, pledging themselves not to import or use British goods till the acts complained of should be repealed. Addresses, petitions, and remonstrances were resorted to, but all to no effect. Instead of changing its policy, the British government

What is related concerning the article of tea? § 164. What bill was passed March 17, 1774? What else occurred the same year? § 165. What action on the part of congress and the people did these measures