Colonial Government - Three Types of Government There were three types or systems of government used within Colonial Government of the 13 Colonies. The names of these different types of government were Royal, Charter and Proprietary. These three types of government were implemented in the colonies and a colony would be referred to as either a Royal Colony, a Charter Colony or a Proprietary Colony. Royal Government definition: Royal Colonies were ruled directly by the English monarchy Proprietary Government definition: Proprietary Colonies were established in territories which had been granted by the English Crown to one, or more, proprietors who had full governing rights Charter Government definition: Charter Colonies were generally self-governed, and their charters were granted to the colonists as opposed to proprietors Colonial Government - Royal Colony Royal colonies were owned by the king. These governments were appointed by the Crown, and carried out the orders and wishes of the Crown as opposed to private or local interests Colonial Government - Proprietary Colony In a Proprietary Colony, an individual, or small elite group, essentially owned the colony, controlling all of the actions and institutions of government, for which they would receive political or financial favors. The governors of the proprietary colonies reported directly to the king. Colonial Government - Charter Colony The Charter Colonies were generally self-governed, and their charters were granted to the colonists via a joint-stock company . When created, the British King granted these colonies a charter establishing the rules of government, but he allowed the colonists a great amount of freedom within those rules Colonial Government - Changes to Systems of Government The 3 systems of government in the 13 original British Colonies could change according to the political and economic changes in Great Britain. Most began as Charter Companies and were then changed to either proprietary colonies or royal colonies. The systems of government just before the American Revolutionary War were as follows: . There were 3 Propriety colonies: Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania . There were 3 Charter Colonies: Connecticut and Rhode Island. Massachusetts was a royal province while operating under a charter . There were 7 Royal Colonies: New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia ac t.:··c !. ( • -::..ar !.y· :r :h.e ,_h,H··, b~l w • :.! t~"''8 S:A.Jl.f' F...Y..: .o·o~ll-<'- C:v!:r rA "' PC rtf•·:J 11Jv" -,nic' rr.... rri._.~a:-;r '="' ,.,~.•• _rl1-!!o)Vet~tin;; :t·l(':..::.ll'll ~'.'i11: ·d~•. lUu.t:.hu ·-·!-1.!:, PE:t.r.r):.,.._, 1•, ... ,, r-·.· -....... I 'CJ n.:ec-. i::·r:: ::no Jlh~:..J.: tJ:• .. l•~ll•!re, t •• C•U-1l1:1;1 , Gcct ~·Ja• f., r.:~t:•" ~ ,,. , I "\C Y:ork, H~'-' I ·nH·y, Ot:l•\.",\':'e I v:-te~.: I l gL>vLr' uo:: ;;:.u;c:·::-t:: r He~· ~c.lor.ir.l -·~Cti'J~Atul"'eS ',.. •r•• ~huucr. 1 :- '"~ ..,;' l ml 'J tJr:,• or ;:,:ve.~.:.- ?TOfrt~to:­ \':)!·':'· 1 I ll.. t!!t' ~.~,~ .. l."t'pe-:' .:.ot.~a ' t.:H~.. _.r ::lCL:IC .C"Vjt'f' t-,.).l&c -t::E:':' :')!)(;!'.e. (c;unc!.. ) {.l UE.C!J: J) (;~...:1.:..- ,, .. I .......--.:: lj I (eO'.:ncil) - C•Jm)lt::h.•:'_ (1 I ;o.l·::un ~"t tht· Th::.rtecn Col·:on:.es w~n= ~.l.lf!J :: .. ~:.:r. .:.t•:.;. ~;:_. f::~t•l o.L 1, ''Y l;.'l .•• ~ ~· ·· ·.-f'l"n(l t" ;rul · c.:c n.:;lsli.r.~ :Jf F. ::"I •lpOtli.' 1·.·:'1111-w .lud '' },r,.r~t h\J .. f."e . -~3' ::a L'.:u colonlo"~t>. th£ ;;:··•;'""r:-.c:- ;..•.:;.s ::l:ot;~- I·., t l·fll ( 4 .• -;~,~ .a':lfo:!.ntf!G. the ;:,··V~..:~nJ r ~ ~~ ~ h·: r•.y.1i .,-, ••:•l""'!l . {5) ::1 ~o,:I~U!J\' 1."Jn1<~., ~L:.r:tl:m~. :n:;. G::t:~~i , thto: t"b-·"'t'. -h. \'.''''' 11''- r. ,I ·~ ..__ .:._. h) '·""•f! ~ ,· .ttln' . -- -· J(! :w•Jt.: .1r .. _.r (,u:" 1:'-•·•v': 1· ..~ •a- :-;. ,1; T·•e n.,.wr ltu~e ,..,,~ C•:':,._~ <:ll·,._ .t ·•r,._ -~r•.,ttf Yt'l T"-,-,,-,--c=---::-:-c'' l·- 1u"';r 1,. v:1 .• ,.·,., •,,1 l•y -he .-..-.t "'"1-1 - ~ "'t7l~· ("til clu•INI h'l .1,, .<it~ -.~r ;:,•r.·~:r·•~r. I tr .,, t ~f··::.:cn J _ i ·-. •· i-~·.; 1 n•·• .,... t •-r:d .l1: d:: J r,·, ·-: ... •" q•l• • l··o-1 •.I - II· l>t-c"ll :•I •, '.• I 'II "II., .,.. h ,. I ..>: t It ·' ...-.... ~·O'' ."'' .