Explain the purpose of representative government during the colonial period. Choose two of the following, the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the Virginia House of Burgesses, to demonstrate how representative government grew during the colonial era. Example Sentence Stem: The Mayflower Compact was written for the purpose of __. The Virginia House of Burgesses was established for the purpose of__. Both of these forms of government demonstrate __ and are important because__. (4 points)

Answer 1

The Mayflower Compact was written for the purpose of establishing a framework for self-governance among the Pilgrims when they landed in North America. It was an agreement that laid the foundation for a government based on the consent of the governed, where community members would create and abide by their own laws. The Virginia House of Burgesses was established for the purpose of allowing the colonists in Virginia to have a voice in their own legislative process, making it the first elected assembly in the American colonies. Both of these forms of government demonstrate the growth of representative government during the colonial era, as they reflect the colonists' desire to have a say in their governance and the establishment of local autonomy. They are important because they set the precedent for future democratic practices in the United States, highlighting the values of self-governance and representation that would later be foundational to the nation.