LAD #1: Mayflower Compact and Fundamental Orders of CT

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

The Compact established the start of a democracy in the colonies. The people were the source of power in the colonies. The contract was signed by people who all agreed on obeying the laws set by the government to allow them to survive and to collaborate and work as one community in order to be successful in America. The Contract also mentioned several times the idea of keeping loyalty to King James. The Mayflower Compact basically was a contract made to establish a democracy in the colonies as well as to keep a sense of loyalty towards England and the king.

2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?

When the Compact said that they were loyal subjects to their Sovereign King it illustrates that connection to the “Old World,” or England. The people who signed the Compact wanted to keep a loyalty and connection to the “Old Word;” England. They wanted to stay honorable towards England with a great deal of respect and to establish a government system that was fair and similar. The signers all meet and agreed to abide by the new government so that the country would run smoothly. It shows the colonists desire to establish a new society but still stay true to their English routs.

3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?

The Orders were basically a document establishing the structure of the new government in the colonies. It was different from the compact because it was an actual constitutional document as suppose to the compact which was a statement or agreement of their plan for the colony. The compact was not very specific in its wishes but the basic ideas of the two documents were very similar. The FOC was the official structure and establishment of the ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact. The FOC was very important because it did not mention England, and it just described a government run by the colonies on their own without England’s help.

4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?

The colonists decided to make this constitution because before the FOC, Connecticut had already created a government, however Thomas Hooker in 1638 forced the Courts to lay down some rules that they had written down on a document. After this they were prompted to establish a written Constitution like the FOC because they wanted order and a democracy under the rule of the people.

5) In what significant way(s) does the Fundamental Orders reflect a fear of and safeguard against the usurping of power by one person or a chosen few?

The FOC protect against a single person coming into powers because there was an annual voting system for Governor in Connecticut. There were also limitations on how long an official could stay in power. All men who were free in Connecticut were given the ability to vote under a democracy. Also every town was allowed to sent deputies to General Court. This was established in case a Governor or other official was becoming too powerful then people could meet in General court and petition.