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First new england town to establish the town hall meeting form of government

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Final answer:

Dorchester was the first town in New England to establish a town hall meeting form of government, inviting all residents to participate, though only land-granted church members had full voting rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first New England town to establish the town hall meeting form of government was Dorchester, which was one of the towns in the Massachusetts Bay colony. Dorchester set a foundational precedent by adopting monthly town meetings. However, not all residents were allowed to vote in these meetings - only those classified as "inhabitants" who had been granted land by the town, admitted to church membership by the congregation, and exercised full political rights. In contrast, "squatters," or those without land, could attend and speak but were not afforded voting rights. Over time, the New England town meeting became a vital democratic feature of the region, with most towns holding regular town meetings despite the initial restriction to church members.

User Desenfoque
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A Town Meeting is when all the people in a district or town would get together to form a legislative body, and determine which laws and regulations will be in effect for the next 12 months. This was originated in the English colonies in New England. The first registered town to held these meetings was Windsor, Connecticut in 1633. There was even a fine for the citizen that didn't attend these meetings.


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User Tjans
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