LAD #1 Mayflower & Fundamental Orders

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

The concepts in the Mayflower Compact include that the people listed were establishing a colony for their King, country, and for the Christian faith. Also that the colony is ruled by the King and that they are there for the benefit of the mother country.

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

The document states that they are a colony in the New world, but they are there for the benefit of their mother country in the Old world. The document constantly refers to their King in the Old as well as how they are their in the New world for religion as well.

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

The Fundamental Orders were much more complex and specific. The Mayflower Compact was general and basically stated that they were a colony. In the Fundamental Orders many ideas for their government and voting along with other things were laid out.

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

The colonists were motivated to make a written constitution because they believed that what God wanted them to do. “The word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Government established.” By creating a constitution they were able to follow the word of God and get a great start to their new 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?

In the Fundamental Orders many things were laid out in order to create a safeguard against one person or a small group gaining too much power. In it, it stated the Governor would be elected and that a new one would be elected each year. This prevented against a single person staying in power too long. Also there were two courts and they could be petitioned at anytime. The system that these people wanted to use would’ve been very good at limiting the power of individuals and small groups.