Final answer:
The charters of the Virginia Company of London provided the colonists with the same rights and privileges of Englishmen, including a form of representative government and other protections under the law, which were pivotal in shaping American political ideals and governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charters of the Virginia Company of London granted the colonists the rights and privileges of Englishmen, which was a significant development in colonial America. These charters, such as the First Virginia Charter of 1606 and the 'Great Charter' or the 'Instructions to George Yeardley' of 1618, established the legal framework for the governance of the colony, including the end of martial law, the establishment of English Common Law, and the rights concerning land ownership through the Headright System. They also set the stage for the creation of the General Assembly, where colonists elected Burgesses to represent them, thereby instituting a form of representative government. Over time, the colonial charters' guarantee of English rights, the 1689 Bill of Rights and Act of Religious Toleration, and principles from Magna Carta became cornerstones of American political thought and eventual grievances during the Revolutionary Era.