The colonies of British America were not created in the same mold, but rather were governed under three different systems: royal, self-governing and proprietary. The different systems of colonial government created diverse attitudes towards English rule and our independence.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, explores how these different systems of governance impacted colonists’ views on independence, and why it still matters today.

Photo Credits:
Library of Congress
Encyclopedia Virginia
Project Gutenberg
New York Public Library
Library Company of Philadelphia