Government Of Colonies
Submitted by on January 1, 1999
Category: Law
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Government of Colonies
Essay submitted by Be de Benito
The government in Massachusetts began with the Mayflower Compact, an agreement
signed by the Pilgrims pledging that they would set up a theocracy, a political system
headed by the clergy. In the compact, they also pledged loyalty to support and follow
England. Seven years later, the Massachusetts Bay Company, under John Winthrope,
coming for economic and religious reasons, set up a general court. This type of
government started with 18 elected freemen, or white, male, wealthy, land-owning
puritans. This government had many problems. The fact that only 18 people were
representing the mass of colonists in Massachusetts caused misrepresentation of the
majority of the colony. The elected freemen made decisions that...