2f. The House of Burgesses
The form of England’s government (limited monarchy) made their colonization unique: people had
representatives that made decisions.
The Virginia House of Burgesses (BURR-juh-ses)
 Burgesses = elected representatives
 established in 1619
 first group that passed laws, and elected by people, in the New World
 first thing they did: set a minimum price for selling tobacco
 inspired partly by the Magna Carta (1215), which began the tradition that landowners have the
right to meet with leaders
 modeled after English Parliament
 met at least once a year even though King James I tried to get rid of them
 decided local laws & taxation
Only white men who owned property could vote for Burgesses.
Why is the House of Burgesses important?
 their tradition affected development of other colonies
 the rest of the colonies all demanded their own legislatures (decision-making groups)
 their tradition inspired the U.S. government after the American Revolution
o in other countries that had revolutions (France, Russia, China), the new leader was usually
an absolute monarch worse than the leader who was replaced
Famous Burgesses
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry.
Bonus
This is not part
of the essential
notes for this
page.
Primary Source: John Pory’s report basically says that a minister said a prayer at the start
of the meeting of the Burgesses. The Speaker (leader) explained why they were meeting,
discussed the set-up of a general assembly (decision-making group), and what duties they
had, because they wanted a fair government for the colony of Virginia.