Unit 1 - Chapters 1 - 4 - Policies

Question 1

Mayflower Compact:

Answer 1

Provisions:
- Agreement among the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower to establish a self-governing colony in Plymouth.
- Established a government based on the consent of the governed.
- Pledged allegiance to the English king and promised to enact laws for the general good.

Effects:
- Laid the foundation for self-government and the establishment of democratic principles in the New World.
- Served as a precursor to future colonial self-governance and influenced the development of representative government.

Question 2

English Bill of Rights:

Answer 2

Provisions:
- Passed in 1689, it outlined the rights and liberties of English subjects.
- Prohibited the monarch from suspending laws, levying taxes, or maintaining a standing army without Parliament’s consent.
- Affirmed freedom of speech, regular elections, and the right to petition the king.
- Banned cruel and unusual punishments and upheld the right to a fair trial.

Effects:
- Limited the powers of the monarchy and asserted the supremacy of Parliament.
- Established the principles of constitutional monarchy and the rule of law.
- Influenced the development of similar documents, such as the United States Bill of Rights.

Question 3

Body of Liberties (Lawes and Liberties):

Answer 3

Provisions:
- Created in 1641, it was one of the earliest legal codes in Massachusetts Bay Colony.
- Outlined civil and legal rights, including trial by jury, due process, and protection against cruel punishments.
- Addressed issues such as land ownership, inheritance, and property rights.

Effects:
- Provided a framework for the legal system in the colony and protected individual rights.
- Demonstrated a shift towards a more organized legal structure and the rule of law in the early American colonies.

Question 4

English Mercantilism:

Answer 4

Provisions:
- Economic policy in which colonies served as a source of raw materials and a market for finished goods for the mother country.
- Strict regulation of colonial trade to ensure a favorable balance of trade.
- Navigation Acts, which restricted colonial trade to British ships and limited exports to England or other English colonies.

Effects:
- Fostered economic dependence of the colonies on England.
- Led to resentment and smuggling among colonists to bypass restrictive trade policies.
- Contributed to tensions between the colonies and England, eventually leading to the American Revolution.

Question 5

Treaty of Paris, 1763:

Answer 5

Provisions:
- Ended the French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) between Britain and France.
- France ceded Canada and all French territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain.
- Spain ceded Florida to Britain in exchange for Cuba.
- France transferred Louisiana territory to Spain.

Effects:
- Established British dominance in North America and marked the end of French colonial presence in the region.
- Increased tensions between Britain and its American colonies due to issues such as increased taxation and territorial disputes.
- Set the stage for future conflicts and disputes that would contribute to the American Revolution.