LAD #1: Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?
Many of the concepts included in the Mayflower Compact relate to the fact the men, women, and children on the boat are subjects of King James. The people signing this document are "royal subjects." Not only that, but they have taken this voyage to honor god and advance the Christian Faith. Also the writer of this document speaks about honoring both the King and their country by starting a colony, and beginning a civil body by coming together. They say that the people of their colony must act in a virtuous manner, which they will also make fair laws and constitutions. They state at the end of this document, again, that they are writing this for their King. Overall, the major concepts stated in this document are that they are acting for King James, they are taking this voyage for the Christian faith, and they will try to act fairly in the new world by creating just laws and constitutions.

 2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect and attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
The Mayflower Compact discusses that the names written on the document are for the King, which the King is a major part of the "old world." Also they want to further the Christian faith, which is a belief they brought from the old world, but the compact also discusses the "new world." First they are going to enact their own constitution. This constitution will not be one taken from the "old world", it will be drawn up to the needs of the men and women in the Plymouth Colony. Overall, the compact contains pieces of both the "old" and "new" worlds.

 3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut and the Mayflower Compact differed in many instances. First, the Mayflower Compact mentioned the King of England, but in the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the King was never mentioned. Also the Orders were mainly about the government, it was specific about what they were going to do, but the Compact was a general statement saying they would make fair laws, it was not as specific. Also the Order was voted on, where as the compact was signed. The final major difference was that the Order talked about towns, much of the rules were already set in Connecticut, where as the Mayflower Compact was the first set of rules in a new world, so it was less specific. Overall these documents were extremely different.

4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?
The colonists at this point in history, were beginning to be fed up with the British government. They wrote down their laws so it would leave power in Connecticut and not in the foreign nation, England. This constitution ensured the colonists their own freedom and representation. Also this made them independent from other states because they had their own legislature.

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 make sure that each man has a say in his government, its based on individual rights. Each person has the right to elect people in the government. This selection of people into the government protects the individual because they can choose who gets the power. Also their is a limit of the number of years a governor can serve which limits their power. Overall, this document helps to limit the power of the government while giving people the rights they deserves, like participation in their own government.