what was goverment like in colonial times?

Answer 1

Each of the 13 "colonies" had a legislature, but membership (like voting rights) was limited to "gentlemen" (white males with property and some degree of education). There were "interest groups" in the legislature; but, because the legislators had so much in common, we couldn't call them political parties as we know them today.

Each also had a "executive" (i.e., governor) usually appointed by "the Crown" in England (except in the "charter" colonies), and a court system. The courts, however, did not enjoy "judicial review" (the right to strike down laws passed by the legislature); but adherence to the "rule of law" was the underlying principle of the entire system.

In retrospect those days seem oppressive (slavery, inequality of women, disenfranchisement of the poor) and we forget that the people of the British colonies in North America were (in the words of S. E. Morison) 'the freest people in the world" at the time. It was not to "win" freedom and liberty, but to "preserve" it, that the "revolution" was fought.

Answer 2

It was very remote and difficult to get things done. Frequently the people didn't know what their legislature was doing, etc. It took a lot of faith on the part of the people.....

Answer 3

non restricting