During the period 1680-1770, an important way in which colonial British political practices evolved was the expansion of representative institutions. The growth of colonial settlements and populations led to the establishment of elected assemblies, such as the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Massachusetts General Court. These assemblies allowed colonists to have a voice in local governance and to participate in decision-making processes. This shift towards representative government laid the foundation for democratic principles that would later shape the United States.