Final answer:
In the New England colonies, initial decisions were made through town meetings, reflecting a strong self-rule tradition. The Crown later centralized power, but colonial assemblies, which were more responsive to local needs due to slow communication and distractions abroad, often managed local affairs, reinforcing self-governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Governing the New England Colonies
In the New England colonies, government decisions were initially made in a manner that reflected a strong tradition of self-rule and local governance. Influenced by the Pilgrims at Plymouth, who established a precedent for making their own rules, many colonies adopted the practice of town meetings. These meetings were a platform for decision-making at the local level and were a vital element in the governance of New England society. However, the political landscape changed when, in 1684, the Crown revoked the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, forming the Dominion of New England, which abolished these local assemblies and placed the colonies under the direct control of a governor-general appointed by the Crown.
The General Court in Massachusetts initially dictated that only freemen could vote or hold public office and that Assistants, or lawmakers, be chosen for life, although these stipulations evolved over time. But with the expansion of male suffrage and the rise of colonial assemblies, the need for responsiveness to constituents grew. These assemblies, elected or appointed by the colonists, often locked horns with royal governors, but ultimately many governors accepted the assemblies’ demands to retain their positions, indirectly encouraging the concept of self-government.
Over time, as communications between England and her colonies were delayed, colonial assemblies often made decisions without waiting for directives from London. Additionally, due to external distractions for the Crown, such as wars with France and Spain, colonies often operated with a degree of autonomy, assuming self-governance, as envisioned by the colonists who believed in the protection of liberties afforded by the English Bill of Rights.