Final answer:
Self-government was evident in early American colonies, with Virginia establishing the House of Burgesses and Plymouth Colony drafting the Mayflower Compact. These developments signified early forms of representative government and self-rule, which were further solidified by the colonies' legislative practices and the period of salutary neglect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-Government in Virginia and Plymouth Colony
The concept of self-government was pivotal in the early American colonies and was evident in various acts and establishments. In Virginia, the House of Burgesses formed in 1619, providing a measure of self-governance as the first elected legislative assembly in the New World. Each property-owning male had the ability to vote for representatives, demonstrating an early form of representative government.
Similarly, the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony drafted the Mayflower Compact in 1620, which was a self-imposed agreement to establish a governing structure based on laws created by the male voters of the colony. This represented another clear instance of the self-governance tradition.
The Mayflower Compact set a strong precedent for self-rule in the colonies, which later manifested in town meetings across New England. Although the Pilgrims later received a formal charter, the fact that they started with their own self-created governing document indicates a significant step towards independent governance. In combination with their General Court and the Fundamentals of Plymouth, these structures ensured that self-government was a practical reality in early American colonial life.
As the colonies expanded and governors from England sought to realign local power structures, political tensions often resulted in colonial assemblies gaining more power and responsibility over colonial affairs. The idea of self-government remained strong, with colonists enjoying a period of salutary neglect, which allowed them to further practice governing themselves without stringent enforcement of British parliamentary policies.