The colonists that now lived in America were living well. They enjoyed the protection they recieved from the the British in England but in return they paid very little back, since the Seven Years War. The colonist weren't paying but they were receiving profits from their trade with the British empire. The colonist enjoyed their political rights as subjects to the British crown, but as soon as the parliament started to tax these colonists to raise revenues,they started to protest. In time all this turning into war.
Mostly the colonists believed that the British enjoyed the best goverment in the world becuase it included the administration of justice according to laws and principles, trial by jury, and freedom of press from prior sencureship.
Colonist used to cherish their right of not having to pay taxes unless imposed by their representatives (their assemblies).
All colonial goverment followed a British model, until a protest in 1760 began showing all the major differences between both governments.
For example,
The British government was divided into three branches:
~ Executive ( Monarch )
~ Legislative ( Parliamnet ) - House of Lords
- House of Commons
The British aristocrates enherited the seats to the House of Lords, and the House of commons depended on elections by a very small percentage of people.
All colonies except for Pennsylvania had a two house legislation. They had the elected assembly and a Council of Prominent Colonists. These prominent colonists had a life time term, by the governor who appointed them. The governor was appointed by the king, except for the governors of Conneticut and Rhode Island, who elected their own. This govenor was there to represent and serve the crown.
No colonist was allowed to vote for parliament.
It was said that the British system was completely democratic, but how can you have democracy in a society where you inherite large and unequal amounts of lands and tittles.
In 1770, the British priminister, Lord North insisted that no man was equal by saying; "I could never agree that all man are created equal". Supporting that, most Britons and colonists agreed with him.
Then, the British constitution was not a formal document. It was just a collection of laws and traditions accumulated by many centuries.
Now colonial terretory rights
were created formal documents called "charters". They also had informal documents too like "The Mayflower Compact".
In comparison, 2/3 of free colonial men had enough property to vote. While in England only 1/4 of men were qualified to vote.
In 1760, a political upheaval in Europe had allowed the colonial assembles to expand their power being payed attention to. The colonies lacked aristocrates with inherited tittles, but the leaders in the assemblies were wealthy planters and merchants.
