The House of Burgesses was the first elected legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in 1619 in the colony of Virginia. It allowed settlers to have a voice in their governance, making decisions on local laws and taxes. This assembly marked a significant step towards self-government in the New World. Members of the House were known as burgesses, and they represented various settlements in Virginia. The assembly met in Jamestown, the colony's capital, and its creation laid the groundwork for future democratic practices in the United States, influencing the development of representative government.