jul 30, 1619 - House of Burgesses established

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The Virginia Company established the House of Burgesses to govern the colony of Jamestown. It was the first elected assembly in colonial America, though it was quite exclusive, only allowing landowners to vote (usually the rich that paid for their passage and received land because of the headright system). In addition, its (non-elected) governor could nullify anything the assembly tried to pass. Nevertheless, it established precedent for future English American colonies to have representative assemblies govern.

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