House of Burgesses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids House of Burgesses |
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| Colony of Virginia | |
Patrick Henry in the House of Burgesses by Peter F. Rothermel
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| History | |
| Established | 1619 |
| Succeeded by | Virginia House of Delegates in 1776 |
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| Reconstructed chamber in Williamsburg Jamestown, Virginia (1619–1699) Williamsburg, Virginia (1699–1776) |
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The House of Burgesses was an important group of elected representatives in the early Colony of Virginia. It was part of the Virginia General Assembly, which made laws for the colony.
The General Assembly started in 1619. When the House of Burgesses was created in 1642, the General Assembly became bicameral. This means it had two parts, like two separate "houses" or groups working together.
From 1642 until 1776, the House of Burgesses worked with the colonial governor (who was chosen by the king) and the Council of State. These three parts together formed the government of the Virginia Colony.
In 1776, the Virginia Colony decided to become independent from Great Britain. It became the Commonwealth of Virginia. At this time, the House of Burgesses changed its name to the Virginia House of Delegates. This group still serves as the lower house of the General Assembly today.
What Does "Burgess" Mean?
The word "Burgess" originally meant a citizen of a town or a person from the middle class. Over time, it came to mean a representative elected to speak for a borough (a town or district) in a government or parliament. So, a "Burgess" was someone chosen by the people to represent them.
The Lasting Impact of the House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses became the House of Delegates in 1776. It kept its role as the lower house of the General Assembly. This General Assembly is the law-making part of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Because of this history, the Virginia House of Delegates is seen as the oldest group of lawmakers that has continuously met in the New World. This means it has been making laws without stopping for a very long time.
To remember the original House of Burgesses, the Virginia General Assembly does something special every four years. They leave their current meeting place in Richmond. Instead, they meet for one day in the restored Capitol building in Colonial Williamsburg. This special meeting honors the history of the first lawmakers. The most recent special session was held in January 2016.
In January 2007, the Assembly also held a special meeting in Jamestown. This was to celebrate 400 years since Jamestown was founded. The Vice-President at the time, Dick Cheney, even gave a speech there.
In January 2019, to mark the 400th anniversary of the House of Burgesses, a new database was created. It's called "DOME" and lists over 9,700 men and women. These are all the people who have served as burgesses or delegates in the Virginia General Assembly over the past four centuries.
See also
In Spanish: House of Burgesses para niños
