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House of Burgesses Facts & Worksheets

When George Yeardley was elected Governor of Virginia in 1619, the House of Burgesses was created.

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When George Yeardley was elected Governor of Virginia in 1619, the House of Burgesses was created. The primary goal was for Virginians to have the same rights as those living in England.

See the fact file below for more information on the House of Burgesses or alternatively, you can download our 27-page House of Burgesses worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES?

  • During the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, strict rules with harsh consequences became outdated very quickly.
  • The joint-stock company, Virginia’s Company, drew up the Great Charter, establishing a government led by a crown-appointed governor and advisory council, which established a democratically elected general assembly. They called it the House of Burgesses.
  • The House of Burgesses was established to create laws and taxation.
  • The House of Burgesses would meet with the Governor and the council in the legislature. They would also meet on their own as a bicameral system.

TIMELINE

  • 1618 – Sir Edwin Sandys and King James I assist in drawing up the Great Charter, which created a representative assembly in Virginia.
  • 1619 – George Yeardley was elected Governor of Virginia.
  • Summer of 1619 – Governor George Yeardley requested two people from each of Virginia’s eleven settlements to sit on the new legislature. This also included a Governor’s council, secretary, and treasurer. During this time, another two colonies were added, totaling 13 colonies in all.
  • July 30, 1619 – The first meeting of the House of Burgesses was held, which took place at a church in Jamestown. It consisted of 22 people.
  • 1625 – The crown took direct control of the colony of Virginia. Even though the role of the General Assembly became unclear, they still continued to meet.
  • 1627 – King Charles I sent a request to the General Assembly asking them to help regulate tobacco.
  • March of 1643 – The House of Burgesses began to meet apart from the General Assembly.
  • 1652 – The House of Burgesses became a powerful political institute in Virginia as it gained the power to select the governor of Virginia and his council.
  • 1652 – Parliament forced the colony to submit to being ruled by the English government.
  • June of 1676 – This was the first general election since 1661. It brought about a series of reforms and a repeal of the 1670 voting law. Charles II would later reverse these reforms over the belief that Nathaniel Bacon forced them into effect.
  • Nathaniel Bacon was a colonist of Virginia, as well as a rebel leader known as the instigator of Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676.
  • 1677 – The Crown imposed stricter regulations on colonial government. The House of Burgesses continued to serve as a partner to the Governor and his council.
  • 1765 – The American Revolution started.
  • 1765 – The Stamp Act was created. This was the first internal tax levied against the American settlers by Britain.
  • May of 1774 – Governor John Murray (Earl of Dunmore) dissolves the General Assembly. The House of Burgesses still continues to meet.
  • May of 1776 – The House of Burgesses has its final meeting during the American Revolution.
  • June 29, 1776 – The Virginia Convention creates a new constitution, making Virginia an independent republic. Following this, the House of Delegates was established and held most of the power of the government.

WHAT WAS THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES?

  • The House of Burgesses was made up of 22 men – two men from each of the eleven plantations/counties.
  • A major role was for the House of Burgesses to change law imposed by Thomas Dale, the governor who originally created some harsh laws before the House of Burgesses was established.
  • With the new laws in place, martial law in Jamestown ended, giving the settlers their freedom.
  • The House of the Burgesses was the first form of democracy to govern in the new world. It created new social and economic institutions, like its slave-labor workforce.
  • The House of Burgesses had different levels of power throughout its existence and survived many attempts from the Crown to limit its power.
  • The House of Burgesses defended the interests of colonists, whereas England would increase regulations to benefit the Crown.
  • They challenged England on their Stamp Act and Boston Harbor closure.
  • The House of Burgesses served as a training environment for many of America’s Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry.

FAMOUS PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES

  • King James I – British monarch who assisted in the creation of the Great Charter, which established the government of the colony of Virginia
  • Sir George Yeardley – first Governor of Virginia in 1619
  • John Murray – Royal Governor who dissolved the House of Burgesses in 1774
  • Peyton Randolph – the House of Burgesses’ last speaker in 1776, also the first president of the Continental Congress
  • Patrick Henry – presented a series of resolves, known as the Virginia Resolves, which was a series of resolutions passed in the House of Burgesses in response to the Stamp Act of 1765
  • Thomas Jefferson – represented Albemarle County in the House of Burgesses from 1769 to 1775
  • George Washington and Richard Henry Lee – served in the House of Burgesses for fifteen years from 1758 to 1775

House of Burgesses Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the House of Burgesses across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use House of Burgesses worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the House of Burgesses which was created when George Yeardley was elected Governor of Virginia in 1619. The primary goal was for Virginians to have the same rights as those living in England.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • House of Burgesses Facts
  • History of Burgesses
  • Create Your Own laws
  • Burgesses Quiz
  • Behind the Flag
  • Biography
  • Timeline Quiz
  • Burgesses Crossword
  • Vocabulary
  • Name the 13 Colonies
  • Burgesses Pop Quiz

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Link will appear as House of Burgesses Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 1, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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