Colonial Government Advancements

     The thirteen original colonies are divided into three groups according to the form of government they use--the Charter, the Royal, and the Proprietary. New York, along with a few other colonies, is a Royal Colony, meaning it is managed by the Royal Family in England.

     The representative system of government is common to all the colonies. It began in Virginia in the notorious House of Burgesses, being introduced and popular throughout the colonies ever since. But, the system of representative government is allowed, but not required, by the early charters.
     After it arose in many more colonies, it was recognized and ratified by many other charters, though it is not mentioned in the New York grant.

    The middle colonies borrow their ideas of government from both New England and the South; adopting a mix of county and township government. In New York the township was the local unit, where elected representatives of the area meet to discuss local issues concerning the colony. But, it did not become organized until after the English Conquest. Under English rule the town meeting was instituted, but with less power than in New England. They chose "overseers," instead of "selectmen," and other officers. Now, after 1703 they have chosen a "supervisor" to manage the affairs of the township who is also a county officer of the county board of supervisors.
      As the colonies continue to grow, economically and systematically, they will expect a more stable, organized form of government. One that allows all the people's views to be expressed. Government is the most important thing to a suscessful state and should be consistly shown throughout all the colonies very soon.

Local Courthouse

           The powers that colonial assemblies exercise in the Middle Colonies vary widely. Throughout the continental United States, all different methods are used to create local governments. The Duke of York has ruled New York for many years without the aid of an elected body, angering much of the population that wants to express their views in government.
           When Governor Edmund Andros retired to England, the Duke of York found it necessary to satisfy the needs of the people by granting local assemblies. He sent Thomas Dongan as governor, But laws passed by the deputies are never ratified, and James II forbade future assemblies upon colonies.
       Duke then chose to withdraw from the Massachusetts charter and join the New England Colonies under the Dominion of New England, created by King James II. At this time lawmaking powers were centered around those appointed in the Dominion council, not in the colonial assemblies.  You could imagine how this is extremely unpopular within the colony, causing the eruption of disputes. But, the Dominion collapsed with the conclusion of the Glorious Revolution, and the rise of William and Mary initiated a period in which the royal English government interfered little with colonial affairs. During this time, the colonists were almost free to go about running their colony affairs the way they felt it most suitable.