What processes occurred in the British Colonies for the establishment of a political system in America?

What processes occurred in the British Colonies for the establishment of a political system in America?

 

To answer this question let’s go back to the beginning of the colonization of the 13 Colonies.

The Colonization of the 13 British Colonies in North America has 4 stages:

1-      Exploring America

2-      The decision to settle

3-      Exportation

4-      Own government

The first stage was not properly a British decision, but a need when the other European countries like Spain, France and Portugal started their explorations. The resolution to settle was the great assert Great Britain did, since they were the first country with the ambition to grow their domain by actually having British people living there and not only taking advantage of the natural resources to enrich more the mother countries.

Once they settled and founded the colonies they started producing raw materials and goods that were merchandized with Great Britain and other European countries, by this they were building up an economic system based on the production and exportation of those goods.

And as a natural result from a civil settlement and life, they created and adapted their own political system.

But let's start by giving two key concepts: Colonialism and Mercantilism.

Colonialism is practice of domination which involves the subjugation of one people to another and its principal characteristic is the settlement.

On the other hand, mercantilism is an economical theory which pushes nations in a struggle for supremacy by merchandizing goods.

Both, Colonialism and Mercantilism were found in the 13 Colonies and these can be identified as the core pieces of the establishment of a political system in North America since they were pushing the settlers to an unfair way of life and oppression from the mother country.

But how did the settlement process become a political system? 

It is summarized by two words: INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRISE.

Proprietary Colonies were a result of the Stuart Restoration, by this the King Charles II gave to his supporters the title of property over the 13 colonies. The Propietors received legal titles for land ownership in America and Political Authority.

In this new system, settlers were authorized to elect and organize assemblies and make laws, even in Pennsylvania (William Penn’s Colony) they had religious freedom, a representative government and land rights.

As my personal conclusion, the evolution of the Political System during the Colonization was a proof of maturity over the developing settlements. They were not only there to “occupy” a land, but to actually progress in the New World.

They had aspirations and they fought for what they believed right.

Unfortunately, the mother country wouldn’t let them develop and grow as they were doing and they were later on, pushed to an Independence revolution.