LAD #1: Mayflower Compact & Fund. Orders of CT

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact? Those who traveled to the New World on the Mayflower stated that "having undertaken for the Glory of God...plant the first Colony." It is apparent that they are very religious and include their odes to God in the Compact. This is important to note this because the reason the pilgrims traveled to the New World was because of religious persecution. In this new world they had the freedom to go about their religious life as they wish. They also state that they will organize themselves into a "civil Body Politick" or a governing system to keep order in the new colony. They agreed to live under different laws and acts of the governing body for the greater good of the colony.


2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds? 
The Mayflower Compact reflects the pilgrim's attachment to the "Old" World because they state that they had taken this new journey in the "Honour of our King and Country." This shows that they still view themselves as Englishmen and part of the British Empire, not an independent group. The Compact also reflects many new ideas of the "New" World. They agree to live for the greater good of the people and under the new laws and agreements that will be set in places. They have the ability to govern themselves, free from the monarch and Parliament, a new concept to the British.


3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact? 
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were a more detailed version of the Mayflower Compact. They drew up specifics about how they were to run their new government in the "New" World and how to select a governor. They outlined how voting works, the requirements of the governor, and how often they can vote. The Mayflower Compact was very simple, stating that they were no longer under the control of the monarch and how they wished to run their government in the future.


4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution? 
The colonists of Connecticut realized that they were technically no longer under the control of the monarch, as did the pilgrims, and used their skills to create a written constitution and outline what the new government would be like in their colony.


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 Fundamental Orders included a great deal about how voting was to work, how often one can vote, and the requirements of the governor. This reflects the Connecticut colonists fear of a single person with all the power, or a chosen few, running the government. They had just come from England where there was a monarch with King James running the show. In order to not recreate the environment they had just fled from they had to clearly state how they were to choose a leader in their new colonies.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Creating the Mayflower Compact