LAD #1: Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

The Mayflower compact was basically a guideline for the Pilgrims to live by. It included concepts such as democracy, rules, regulations, and loyalty.

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

The Mayflower Compact included ideas about both the New and Old Worlds. It included New World Ideas in that the Pilgrims were breaking away from the autocracy found in England under the King. Though, it still had concepts of the Old World such as loyalty. One can clearly see this because the document swears to not only god but to the king of Ireland, France and Great Britain.

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

The difference between the Mayflower Compact and The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut is that the Mayflower Compact just states that a constitution should be made, while the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut actually is a written constitution and can be considered the basis of many events that later followed.

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

The reason for why the colonists of Connecticut used this approach to setting up their government was because the colonists wanted to be successful in creating a civilization. They knew that previous trips to the New World were unsuccessful, so they felt that order would solve this problems. By developing basically a written constitution they knew that their civiliation would do well.

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 can greatly be considered a safeguard against an autocracy or oligarchy. It places restrictions on how long one can run and how they can run. It states “that no person be chosen Governor above once in two years” which shows how controlling this constitution is. The constitution was a safeguard and was important.