- These representative assemblies, also called colonial legislatures, allowed colonists to have a voice in their own governance.
- The first representative assembly was the Virginia House of Burgesses, established in 1619.
- Other colonies soon followed suit, and by the end of the 17th century, most English colonies had representative assemblies.
- These assemblies were a crucial step toward self-government because they gave colonists a way to express their grievances and to hold their governors accountable.