This tutorial looks at the British political traditions that influenced the American colonists as they gained their independence from Britain and created their own form of government. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.

Patrick Henry stoked the fires of the Revolutionary War during his time in the House of Burgesses in such a way that some colonists accused him of treason. Follow his political and law career and learn about the impact he made on our...

America was victorious in the Revolutionary War, but now faced a slew of problems while trying to set up our new nation. Study how we attempted to solve the problems of establishing a government, forming our economy, meeting the needs of...

A series of three maps of the British colonies in North America showing the types of colonial governments between 1682, 1692, and 1730, and the shift from charter colonies electing their own governors to the colonies with councilors...

Here's a site with lots of information written by middle school students. Click on English Colonial Life, then Development of Self-Government for more information on government of the colonies.

Discusses development of representative government especially in the New England colonies.

Background information about the literary traditions of the pre-Colonial and Colonial period. Includes information about Native American oral traditions and Native American cultures. Follow the links to the Early American era and to...

The early settlers to the New World began to map strategy for their own system of government. This site details that strategy and what kinds of events spawned the idea of representative government.

The first permanent English settlers in North Carolina emigrated from the tidewater area of southeastern Virginia. The first of these "overflow" settlers moved into the area of the Albemarle Sound in northeast North Carolina around 1650....

Read about the government of Mali, which has a multi-party democracy. There is also an easy to read chart which names the government officials, and describes the type of government. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.

Although some believe that the history of the American Revolution began long before the first shots were fired in 1775, England and America did not begin an overt parting of the ways until 1763, more than a century and a half after the...

Comprehensive information about the colonial period of American History. Includes information about New England, colonies, government, people, The French and Indian War, and the Salem Witch Trials.

A brief discussion of the colonial period in the United States. Includes information on New England, the middle colonies, and the southern colonies. Also, find out about the early government, and the French and Indian War.

Excerpted from the Colonial Williamsburg Journal, this essay offers details of Thomas Jefferson's life and his long and varied career.

Provides an overview of the history of New York and of how the United States government came to acquire Ellis Island. Fort Gibson was built there prior to the War of 1812 to serve as a strategic post in case of attack.

Biographical note on Patrick Henry, the lawyer, patriot, orator, and symbol of the American struggle for liberty and self-government during the American Revolution.

Find out about the development of self-government in the English colonies and the responsibilities of the colonial legislatures.

This letter written by Guaman Poma is the most famous manuscript from South America dated to this time period in part because it is so comprehensive and long, but also because of its many illustrations. View pictures of the illustrations...

This site has information pertaining to Britain's colonial policy. The policy of salutary neglect is covered. Links to sites for more information.

A descritpion of court personell and each of their roles in Colonial court proceedings.

Outlines the duties of the the local or Husting court in Colonial Virginia.

The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected legislature in the New World. Find out why the governmental conditions in England led to this representative government and how it was so different from the governing of colonies in...

[Free Registration/Login Required] Students identify the Impacts of Colonialism - to include social, economic and political legacies and how these led to civil wars, dictators, and corrupt governments. Students grasp the complexity of...

The First Indochina War began as a rebellion by Vit Minh forces against the French colonial government. This collection mainly focuses on the end of the conflict in 1954.