LAD/Blog 1: Mayflower Compact and Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1. What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?
There were several concepts included in the Mayflower Compact.  For example, it included the first appearance of the idea of self-government in America.  Effective for about 71 years, the Mayflower Compact was created by the Pilgrims as a promise to themselves to set up a new form of government.  Principles of liberty and tolerance were very important parts of the new self-government, because the Pilgrims left their home countries as a result of a lack of these characteristics in those governments.


2. How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
The Mayflower Compact reflects the "Old" world through its remaining loyalty to the King of England.  Plus, the deep love and respect for God was very much the same as in England, as it was still important to the Pilgrims.  Not much else reflected the "Old" world, since the whole point of the Mayflower Compact was to create a new, different type of government.  It reflects the "New" world by including parts of equality mutuality between the Pilgrims in the sight of God.  The "New" world was a bit ahead in the world when it came to equality and rights.  Lastly, the Mayflower Compact was more similar to the "New" world in the way that it expressed the desire for equal laws, a sign of a new democratic form of government (which could not be found in the "Old" world).


3. How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
For starters, the Fundamental Order of Connecticut was more specific and organized than Mayflower Compact.  With the Mayflower Compact, people were still getting used to the ideals of democracy and were creating it as they went, figuring out rules and such.  The Fundamental Orders were more planned out, with courts, meetings, elections, representatives, official titles, etc.  Being more specific, the Fundamental Orders were also more strict and black and white, even though they similarly weaved more freedoms into the rules.


4. What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, ie.: use of a written constitution?
The colonists of Connecticut wanted to form a government with a written constitution because they wanted written rules that everyone could agree to and look back on.  Additionally, they wanted an orderly government according to God, with laws, rules, orders, decrees, etc.  Colonists felt that a written constitution would help to keep the government organized, with clear laws and agreements.


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 of Connecticut reflect the fear of usurping of power through the different orders within the document.  For example, they included elections in the decision making of who holds power in the government, and all of the orders themselves were voted on as well  This ensures that the people elected will be popular with the colonists, giving them less of a reason to want to overthrow the government.  Another way can be seen at the beginning of each order.  Most of them start with "It is Ordered, sentenced, and decreed."  The use of these three words repeatedly highlights how the government is trying to be as strict and clear as possible without causing any anger, in order to limit controversy over the law.  Finally, the word "equal" can be seen throughout the document, proving that the government was carefully to put together laws that were equal and just, again to avoid conflict.

The Bill of Rights of 1791 (another US event) was an important point in American history, and relates to these other two documents.  All three of these documents are similar because of their carefully throughout rules that change the government.  The faces behind these documents worked hard to craft the laws, freedoms, and limitations that would work best for the government and the people.