Were the Politcal Acts of the Early Colonists Democratic
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Once the first English settlers set foot on American soil they were setting tracks in history with every step they took. Their first few steps were with that of democratic characteristics. There were a few significant democratic concepts throughout the colonies.
The Mayflower Compact was one of the first movements toward a
democratic society. The Compact, although not a constitution, was an agreement to form a crude government and to submit to the will of the majority under the regulations agreed upon. This simple agreement was a promising step toward self-government. Soon, the adult male settlers were assembling to make their own laws in open-discussion town meetings.
The Congregational Church, which was the Puritan congregations, also took steps in the democratic ways of the future. Although the voting rights were only given to the adult males who belonged to the Puritan congregation, it was a far larger proportion that in England. Town governments were even more inclusive. Only male property holders enjoyed the chance to discuss local issues and vote on them. After the Half-Way Covenant, membership to the church was open to all. This led to almost all men and even women in the majority of the Puritan congregation.
In the Connecticut River colony, in an open meeting a trailblazing document known as the Fundamental Orders was drafted. It was in effect a modern constitution, which organized a government democratically controlled by the eligible citizens. The Fundamental Orders and the Mayflower Compact both were important steps in democratic history. The Mayflower Compact was an important example for later written constitutions; while the Fundamental Orders were used in Connecticuts colonial charter and eventually for its state constitution.
The choices made by the early settlers even though seemingly small, were a huge impact on history. From the beginning, the English colonies had indeed shown democratic characteristics and we, today, see the impact it had on us.