New Jersey's colonial government changed over time, but generally maintained the same basic structure. At first (1664-1702) it was a proprietary colony in which the proprietors chose a governor. As a proprietary colony, it also featured a colonial legislature, the lower house of which doubled as the governor's council. At this point, the colony was actually two colonies--West Jersey and East Jersey, controlled by two different proprietors and featuring Quaker and Scottish populations, respectively. In 1702, New Jersey was formed by uniting these two colonies, and the structure of government remained, with the governor then appointed by the Crown. This system remained until the American Revolution, when William Franklin (son of the rebel Benjamin), having remained loyal to the British, was forced out of office. The revolutionary government established by the state constitution of 1776 maintained the two-house legislature and the governor's office, but the governor saw his powers severely curtailed.
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