Roots.

Before any in-depth study of the British American colonies can be done, it is necessary to first examine them in their English imperial context. In many ways the colonial governments that evolved over time reflected more and more their English roots. It is clear that the engine of time did not alter the average colonist's self perception that he was English. If anything, that perception increased with time. For that reason, a look at the British imperial system, especially as it related to colonial politics and government, is in order.

Direct Crown Control.

Colonial governments were not uniform; that is, they varied substantially in settlement organization and in political maturity. Different circumstances dictated each colony's origin and function. Vital to understanding this fluctuation is to understand also the simultaneous fluctuations that transpired in England throughout the American colonial era. Yet, even with...