Title: Virginia's pursuit of self-government : the effects of the civil war and interregnum on England's first successful colony in North America, 1652-1660.
Abstract: were selected from England to sit on the Council of State.But in 1652, Parliament forced the colony to surrender to its rule and the newly-established English Commonwealth.The Commonwealth's take-over of Virginia flipped the balance of power not only within the General Assembly but also for the entire colonial government. 2A new constitution that year made the House of Burgesses the most powerful body.It now had the power to elect all public officers within the colony including the Governor and Councilors.Unlike the Council of State, the House of Burgesses was a representative body which consisted of free male colonists elected by their constituents in the various counties and parishes.Until 1670, the House of Burgesses represented all free males without any land or tax requirements. 3 In 1652, Parliament forced Virginia's surrender and empowered the House of Burgesses to rule Virginia as "representatives of the people." 4 Imbued with this new power, the House of Burgesses took full advantage of the opportunity it presented to exercise this power between 1652 to 1660 to an extent that was not seen again until the American Revolution.It was in this way that Virginia's government dealt with the political turmoil arising in the Interregnum period.The turmoil in England and the efforts to resolve it disrupted Virginia's tobacco trade, which was its life blood.Virginia's planters wanted political stability and a functioning government in order to facilitate stable commerce.Virginia's government struggled with the change of power from Charles I to the Commonwealth.This transition left a power vacuum in Virginia, which the House of Burgesses--taken advantage of the directions given by the