Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was the House of Burgesses?

1. An assembly of elected representatives in Virginia

2. The first political party in the American colonies

3. The governing body of the New England colonies

4. A group of colonists who opposed British rule

The correct answer is: An assembly of elected representatives in Virginia

The House of Burgesses was an assembly of elected representatives in Virginia, established in 1619. It was significant because it marked the beginning of representative government in what would become the United States. Colonial Virginia's royal governor convened this legislative body to allow settlers to have a voice in the governance of the colony, enabling them to create laws and taxes. This concept of self-governance laid the foundation for the development of democracy in the future United States. The establishment of the House of Burgesses demonstrated the early emergence of political institutions in the American colonies and allowed for local decision-making. While other options reference important historical elements, they do not accurately describe the House of Burgesses. For instance, the first political party in the American colonies is often associated with later developments in political organization, and not with the House of Burgesses. Similarly, the governing bodies of New England colonies were structured differently and often centered around town meetings rather than a single assembly like the House of Burgesses. The mention of a group of colonists opposing British rule pertains more to revolutionary groups that arose later in history, such as the Sons of Liberty, rather than the legislative function that the House of Burgesses served in the early colonial period.