Spotsylvania Courthouse VA
1-13-2026 2:26am

The Significance of the Virginia General Assembly

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The Virginia General Assembly began with the House of Burgesses in Jamestown on July 30, 1619, as the first representative legislative body in the New World, established by the Virginia Company to create local laws and handle public matters for the colony. Comprised of Governor Sir George Yeardley, his council, and 22 elected representatives (burgesses), this foundational assembly met in the Jamestown church for six days, setting a precedent for self-governance. Key Details of the First Assembly (1619)

  • Date: July 30 – August 4, 1619.
  • Location: The church at Jamestown.
  • Purpose: To establish a uniform government, introduce just laws, and address colony issues like tobacco prices and Native American relations.
  • Composition: Governor Yeardley, four councilors, and 22 elected burgesses from the settlements.
  • Significance: It established the principle of representative government in English North America, laying groundwork for the future Virginia General Assembly.
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