The Establishment of the House of Burgesses - Article

This brief article discusses the formation of America's first representative government in Virginia.

The House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses, established in Virginia in 1619, was one of the earliest representative legislative assemblies in English North America. It gave Virginia colonists a greater voice in local government and became an important step in the development of representative government in the colonies.

Early Representative Government in Virginia

As Jamestown became more stable and successful, the strict rules and harsh punishments imposed by earlier leaders such as Thomas Dale became less necessary. In 1619, George Yeardley became governor of Virginia. One of Yeardley's major goals was to give Virginia colonists more of the rights enjoyed by English citizens. Under the new system, colonists were allowed to elect representatives who could help make local laws and participate in the government of the colony.

The First Meeting of the House of Burgesses

The first meeting of the House of Burgesses took place on July 30, 1619, at Jamestown. The assembly included elected representatives, known as burgesses, from Virginia's settlements and plantations, along with colonial officials. The representatives met to discuss laws and other issues affecting the colony. Their work helped replace some of the harsh military-style rules that had governed Jamestown during its earlier years and gave property-owning male colonists a greater role in local government.

An Important Step Toward Self-Government

The House of Burgesses became an important example of representative government in the English colonies. Although political participation was limited and many people in Virginia, including women, enslaved Africans, indentured servants, and Native peoples, had no voice in the assembly, the institution established the principle that some colonists could elect representatives to help create laws. This tradition of representative government continued to develop throughout the colonial period and later influenced American political institutions.

Why it mattered: The House of Burgesses helped establish a lasting tradition of representative government in Virginia and became an important early example of elected lawmaking in colonial America.

House of Burgesses Articles and Activities

13 Colonies Navigation

Related activities

Remove ad