Kate Borows-Lai, 2016

Conclusion of research paper:

The purpose of government is to create a system where everyone is heard and where structure keeps everything from falling apart. Sadly, government in Colonial America did not accomplish this in any way. Many people became victims of the careless legal system created by the House of Burgesses, which was ridiculously homogeneous and underrepresented. Colonial government was also controlled by the King, so England was still in power over the colonies. Judges were guided by religion and ruthlessly tore defendants apart until they had no other option but to confess. Punishments were even more brutal, and were designed to humiliate the victim and warn others not to follow in their footsteps. Members of colonial government were highly biased and were much more likely to convict Africans, Native Americans, and women than they were to convict white, Protestant, wealthy men. Because all of this, it is easy to conclude that colonial government was ineffective and prejudicial. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it didn’t do anything for our country. Colonial government still was the beginning of democracy in this country. Without it, we might not have ever reached this point in government today. The Revolutionary War brought America independence and freedom, but it also gave us new ideas about how this country should be run. The political injustice of colonial times led the colonists to rebellion against England. If this unfairness never existed, the settlers might have never had the incentive to rebel. We might still be under England’s rule to this day. Colonial government was the base of modern government today, and it gave us the ideas we needed to start this country: the ideas of democracy, freedom of speech, representation, and a free government where everyone is created equal.  

Slave’s punishments
Keira E.
2015

Law, crime and punishment in America was built off of racism and stereotypes. The government was made up of white men, and punishments were based more on someone’s race than on their crime. There were two types of crimes, and the crimes within those two kinds often derived from religious beliefs. The punishments for these two types of crimes were either painful and humiliating, or fatal. Minor punishments were dealt out by a sheriff, while major punishments were dealt out by the court. The court was a place that judged extreme cases, but it only allowed English people access. African and Native American punishments were given out by masters or tribal leaders. Many people had some sort of role or job in one of these areas. Law, crime and punishment were an essential part of a colonial person’s life, and it still is today.