LAD #1: The Mayflower Compact and The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1.     One major concept that is included is that the colonists will work together to create a “civil Body Politick”. To do this, the colonists who were a part of the Mayflower Compact vowed to create just laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and officers to make sure the people abide by the created rules and regulations. The Mayflower Compact also focuses on God and colonists’ country, with the writers remarking that journey to the new world was a task undertaken for Him and in honor of the king and their country. Lastly, a concept of the Mayflower Compact is religion, as the journey to the New World was also completed to create a haven in the New World and allow their faith (Christianity) to flourish.

2.     The Mayflower Compact reflects to both through the mentioning of God and their home country. The Mayflower Compact attaches to the “Old” world as it is made to ensure the colonists keep their loyalty to the home country. This is exemplified by the colonists agreed that they are developing this colony for the king. The Mayflower Compact also attaches itself to the “New World”. The colonists believe that by coming to America they are advancing Christian faith and believe that now in America they have a covenant with him to create society as He would have desired.

3.     One such difference between the two is that the writers of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut do not swear its loyalty to the king of England. Instead, the writers state that their colony is entirely devoted to God and that their survival and laws to their colony were made solely for Him. The writers of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut also include a constitution into their orders. This is because the colonists of Connecticut wanted to create a government and code of law before opening their colony. The Mayflower Compact, on the other hand, simply states that the colonists have an agreement with one another to eventually create a government.

4.     The colonists of Connecticut were prompted to take this approach as they had already established a society (which was not an official colony at the time), into the New World. When becoming a colony, a large amount of Puritans migrated to Connecticut. As a result, it was announced that Connecticut would establish a written constitution to make the rules and regulations of the government known. The constitution was based off of the democratic ideals of previous colonies, so that the laws would already be familiar to others and that those in a position of power would be chosen by the people.

5.     The Fundamental Orders reflects this fear by creating several laws on voting, terms in office, a system of checks and balances within the government. For example, only qualified freemen were allowed to vote in elections. Those elected could not remain in power for long. This is shown by the magistrates and governors only having one year terms. But, should they abuse this power, the General Court could be called upon and can remove those in power from office.