LAD #1 Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

                                             The Signing of the Mayflower Compact, 1620

1. What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

 The Mayflower Compact states that the people present, as listed in the compact, have planted the first colony in northern Virginia. They hope to combine themselves together to form a political system in accordance with the Church of England and the laws of King James. They set up laws to follow so that there could be order in the colony and they promised to be obedient with these laws.
2. How does the Mayflower Compact reflect an attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?
  The Mayflower Compact reflects an attachment to the Old world by stating, "in the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James." The settlers still showed attachment to their beloved homeland, which is not surprising being in a new place and having to set up their own system of government for the first time alone with no guidance. The compact also showed movement towards a new world by setting up their own "body politik" which is a group system of government, unlike the Parliament system back home in England.
3. How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differed from the Mayflower Compact in that it was more complex and advanced, shifting more towards a "New" world rather than sticking to the same ideas as England. Connecticut came up with a system of electing a governor and others to office rather than having a group, self-governing government like the Mayflower Compact. Connecticut's Orders gave more of a strict constitution having specific plans for how things will play out rather than the vagueness of the Mayflower compact's rules.

The Connecticut Colony, 1639

4. What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government; i.e. use of a written constitution?

The colonists of Connecticut took this approach to government because they were able to learn from the mistakes of the early colonists at Plymouth. They knew that they needed a more strict and orderly system of government which prompted them to write a specific constitution. This constitution also protected them if any questions arose about how to proceed with law passing, voting and ruling. 

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 tries to not give one person ultimate power, this is shown when talking about the Court Governor: " The Governor or Moderator shall have power to order the Court, to give liberty of speech, and silence unseasonable and disorderly speakings...But none of these Courts shall be adjourned or dissolved without the consent of the major part of the Court." This decree shows that the Connecticut settlers feared putting power in one person, like back home in England, which is not surprising due to the corruption occurring in England with Charles I trying to take control over Parliament.