Identify central issues explain why the pilgrims government came about came about and why its existence was important

Answer 1

The central issue that led to the establishment of the Pilgrims' government was religious freedom. The Pilgrims were a group of English Separatists who wanted to separate from the Church of England and practice their own form of Protestantism. However, they faced persecution and restrictions in England, so they decided to seek refuge in the New World.

The Pilgrims' government came about as a necessity for survival and the maintenance of order in their new settlement. In 1620, the Pilgrims established the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. With no established form of government, they drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact, a social contract that outlined how the colony would be governed.

The Mayflower Compact established a self-governing body with fair laws and elected officials (governors and deputies). It pledged allegiance to the English monarch, but also emphasized the right to self-governance and the importance of the community's collective decisions. This government was important for several reasons:

1. Order and stability: The Pilgrims' government provided a system to maintain order and settle disputes among the settlers. It established a legal framework that allowed for fairness and justice to prevail within the community.

2. Legitimacy: The Mayflower Compact gave the Pilgrims' government legitimacy, as it was endorsed and consented to by the colonists themselves. This helped to establish a sense of unity and authority among the settlers.

3. Democracy: The establishment of elected officials within the Pilgrims' government introduced a form of democracy. While only male church members had the right to vote initially, it laid the foundation for representative government, where individuals had a say in decision-making processes.

4. Setting a precedent: The Pilgrims' government was one of the early examples of self-government in the New World. It became a guiding precedent for future settlements and colonies, serving as a model for democratic governance.

Overall, the existence of the Pilgrims' government was important as it provided a system for self-governance, maintained order and stability, and set a precedent for democratic principles. It allowed the Pilgrims to establish their religious freedom and laid the groundwork for the development of democratic institutions in the New World.