LAD #1- Mayflower Compact
1. What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?
The Compact swears loyalty to King James and the Christian faith, and also the “empire” of England; Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. This article proclaims the placement of the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, in the honor of the King, country, and faith. The Mayflower Compact also creates a governing body in order to enact just and equal laws. The governing bodies were to meet whenever the need arose for new laws or a change in officers or revision of the constitution.
2. How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
The Mayflower Compact reflects attachment to both worlds in many ways. For example, by swearing allegiance to the King, the Pilgrims kept their old ties to England, although they fled from this King in the first place. Also, the Pilgrims noted their accomplishment for the glory of England, the King, and their faith. The compact reflects attachment to the new world by creating an “equal and just” governing body for the creation of laws and other ordinances and the election of officers. This differed greatly from England, where the king was the ruler, not a legislation of lawmakers.
3. How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut vary from the Mayflower Compact in that the Orders set out specific laws, such as the rules of the election of a magistrate. These laws were set in stone, much like a modern constitution, with procedures for elections, and a regular time for a legislature to meet. This differs from the Mayflower Compact in that the Compact never had any specific laws that it set out, only a statement that a “governing body” would enact “just and equal laws.” Nowhere in the Mayflower compact is a specific law or procedure, only statements saying that these laws will be created by a legislature. This legislature will meet only when necessary, unlike the Orders, where a general court is required twice yearly.
4. What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?
The colonists of Connecticut believed that an orderly and decent government needed to be established in order to rule over three different towns; Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. The colonists recognized this need because of the difficulties in working with three separate governments. This written Constitution set out laws that everyone had to abide by, and everyone agreed on when the Constitution was made. Instead of the Mayflower Compact, in which laws could be changed easily as different members passed through the government, these laws stayed with much more permanence.
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 represent a fear in the usurping of power by a single person in the laws that were created by this constitution. The laws prevent a single person from taking control in many ways. The Orders created a law that prevented a magistrate from serving more then twice in two years, which prevented one man from dominating year after year. This may have prevented such “shady” practices as vote manipulation or bribery, as an elected official would not stay long in power. Also, the Orders created a law that requires the general courts to meet. This prevented a person of power to be able to disband the courts and take power. The three towns were also given the right to send four freemen to the general courts to cast a vote, which prevented the court from seizing power from the people. All of these laws helped prevent the usurping of power by a single individual, and set the precedents for many constitutions to follow.
The Compact swears loyalty to King James and the Christian faith, and also the “empire” of England; Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. This article proclaims the placement of the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, in the honor of the King, country, and faith. The Mayflower Compact also creates a governing body in order to enact just and equal laws. The governing bodies were to meet whenever the need arose for new laws or a change in officers or revision of the constitution.
2. How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
The Mayflower Compact reflects attachment to both worlds in many ways. For example, by swearing allegiance to the King, the Pilgrims kept their old ties to England, although they fled from this King in the first place. Also, the Pilgrims noted their accomplishment for the glory of England, the King, and their faith. The compact reflects attachment to the new world by creating an “equal and just” governing body for the creation of laws and other ordinances and the election of officers. This differed greatly from England, where the king was the ruler, not a legislation of lawmakers.
3. How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut vary from the Mayflower Compact in that the Orders set out specific laws, such as the rules of the election of a magistrate. These laws were set in stone, much like a modern constitution, with procedures for elections, and a regular time for a legislature to meet. This differs from the Mayflower Compact in that the Compact never had any specific laws that it set out, only a statement that a “governing body” would enact “just and equal laws.” Nowhere in the Mayflower compact is a specific law or procedure, only statements saying that these laws will be created by a legislature. This legislature will meet only when necessary, unlike the Orders, where a general court is required twice yearly.
4. What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?
The colonists of Connecticut believed that an orderly and decent government needed to be established in order to rule over three different towns; Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. The colonists recognized this need because of the difficulties in working with three separate governments. This written Constitution set out laws that everyone had to abide by, and everyone agreed on when the Constitution was made. Instead of the Mayflower Compact, in which laws could be changed easily as different members passed through the government, these laws stayed with much more permanence.
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 represent a fear in the usurping of power by a single person in the laws that were created by this constitution. The laws prevent a single person from taking control in many ways. The Orders created a law that prevented a magistrate from serving more then twice in two years, which prevented one man from dominating year after year. This may have prevented such “shady” practices as vote manipulation or bribery, as an elected official would not stay long in power. Also, the Orders created a law that requires the general courts to meet. This prevented a person of power to be able to disband the courts and take power. The three towns were also given the right to send four freemen to the general courts to cast a vote, which prevented the court from seizing power from the people. All of these laws helped prevent the usurping of power by a single individual, and set the precedents for many constitutions to follow.
posted by Lindsay M at 5:30 PM
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