jan 1, 1620 - Early Political Institutions: House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact, Limits to Colonial Democracy(POL, MIG)

Description:

At the start of the Americas, small forms of self government began to take place in the different colonies. Documents such as the Mayflower Compact were created by the pilgrims settling in Massachusetts who came here on the Mayflower boat. This document contained early forms of capitalism in which they pledged to be governed by the majority which was also signed by these settlers. The House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in America, this was due to the heavy promotion of Jamestown by the Virginia Company which settlers were promised representation in the lawmaking process. Although early forms of capitalism existed there were many limits to the extent of the colonist’s say in government. Only men could vote for representatives, some leaders did not follow these rules and only took orders from the king, and antidemocratic practices such as slavery were still being used.

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