the answer to each questions needs to be at least 250 words. It can be much more though as well. up to you. Please review and revise this essay.
Savannah Mathews The Cerebration of the Colonial Canon 1) The Mayflower Compact (1620) was written and signed during the voyage of the Mayflower, which had set sail to the Virginia colonies. The Compact was a written contract in an attempt to establish equanimity and the rules of government amongst the pilgrims as it states, “Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a civil body Polick for our better order and preservation” (Page 1). The Compact was thus written by and for the people to establish collective compliance as they knew that a colony without law and order was doomed to disaster. To avoid such fate, the pilgrims would 'join' together, furthering the colonies' goals as they knew that a colony without law and order was doomed to disaster. Therefore, the pilgrims created a government for the people in an effort to avoid such fate. They also agreed mutually that in order to facilitate better the pilgrim’s colonial ambitions that they would need to obey and submit to “Law, Ordinance, Acts, Constitution and Officers” (Page 1), which would be authorized and arranged for the common benefit of the colony. By submitting to these and giving up pieces of individual freedom in exchange for state protection, the pilgrims have agreed to a social contract. The Mayflower Compact can thus be viewed as a literal social contract where the pilgrims had agreed to come together and individually forfeit their powers for a governance institution for the common good. 2) The New England Confederation (1643) was a proposed military accord between four North American colonies. It was drafted to address; States’ rights, trade, boundary disputes, the preservation of puritan values, and procedures to occur in the event of a conflict or war. Although the New England Confederation was written due to increased contact between the colonies and the Native American nations or tribes, the primary reason for its draft was for the possible forthcoming attacks by the French and Dutch. In the search for security and defense against such attacks, the delegates of the colonies thought an alliance was their best option. This was established by the New England Confederation, detailing how each province would provide two commissioners who held the legislative power to create laws and regulations that would benefit the common good and ensure friendly relations amongst the provinces to maintain the alliance. The commissioners could also elect a president from amongst themselves, but they would serve a purely administrative function. It is also established in the document that if any Jurisdiction or Plantation is under attack or invaded by an enemy, then, “Upon notice and request of any three magistrates of that Jurisdiction so invaded, the rest of the Confederates without any further meeting or expostulation shall forthwith send aid to the Confederate in danger”(Article 5) To which the colonies would send either a specific number of soldiers escribed in the New England Confederation or they would send an amount based on the sizing of population. However, if a colony were to involve the confederations in war and was an aggressor or was invaded and it was found that the invaded people were the cause of the invasion, then the payment for injuries would only fall on the aggressor then. 3) In Penn's Plant of Union (1697), it was declared that the governor of a colony would be nominated by the King to be the King's High Commissioner, whose duty would be to maintain peace and resolve conflict or disagreements of a province or between provinces. One of the first conflicts established in Penn's Plan of Union was that the High Commissioner had the duty of resolving the specific issue of when an individual relinquished and departed from a province they owed debt in, despite having the ability to pay, in an attempt to escape from paying the said debt. Another specified issue the King’s High Commissioner was responsible for dealing with was when an offender of the law escaped from one province to another to escape prosecution, while the province the offender resided in could not provide adequate justice. The third duty written in Penn’s Plan of Union was to examine and contemplate various methods and means to uphold the alliance and security of the Union against civil adversaries. This way, allocation of charges and men will be better measured and much easier to debate in Congress because the delegates will be much more aware of their own provinces and other provinces' standings. When this does occur, the General or Chief Commander will be the Kings High Commissioner who will be responsible for the “several quotes upon service against the common enemy.” (article 7) for the general advantage of the Union. 4) The Albany Plan of Union (1754) was drafted for the thirteen colonies in an attempt to create a more centralized and collective form of government. It established this by calling for a Grand Council, with delegates being chosen by representatives of the people. At the same time, the centralized government would be directed and managed by a crown-appointed President-General. Within the Albany Plan, the Grand Council was set to adjourn once a year, but if required, they could also adjourn more often. In times of emergency, though, the President General could declare that the Grand Council adjourn after he gained written permission from seven other council members and sent out in a timely written notification to the other council members. In the ninth article is it also established that not only is the President-General in charge but that it is his duty to make certain acts of Congress are accomplished and completed. The President-General also held power, under the advice of the Grand Council, over how the colonies and sometimes the crown would interact with Native American nations and tribes. He held the ultimate say in how treaties between the colonies and Indians would be managed and whether war and peace could be declared on the nations. The President General also regulated trade with the Native Americans and land purchases in the name of the crown. After the purchases of such land, the President General would create laws and administrations for governing the land, at least until or if the crown would decide to construct such laws and administrations in a specific fashion. The President General was also invested with the duty of ensuring the general defense of the colonies, having a multitude of specific responsibilities in doing so. For instance, the President General was to provide the construction of Forts for land, which would defend coastal attacks or attack on trade. With expressed permission from the Legislator, the President General could also create a draft. The President General also had the ability to “lay or Levey such general duties imposts or taxes.” (article 16) considering the circumstances of the colonies and their people. The Grand Colony and the President General also had the final say on the treasury. Where no amount of money could be issued without the expressed permission of not only the President-General but also the Grand Council. 5) The Grand Council, as written in Joseph Galloways Plan of Union (1774), had many rules and responsibilities. One of those being that it establishes Grand Council meetings. The Council, for instance, would meet once every three years with representatives of several colonies choosing members for the Grand Council. However, it is also stated in the Plan of Union that the Grand Council could decide that they should meet more often, the Council could meet once a year. In times of emergency, the President General could also call for a meeting. Another responsibility that the Grand Council had would be the choice of a House Speaker, who would exercise all like powers, privileges, and rights as in Great Britain. The Grand Council would also be responsible for regulating the President General and providing advice while he exercised the duties of his position. Lastly, the Grand Council would be integrated and unified with the British Legislator, all though the Grand Council would be viewed as lesser. Therefore, any comprehensive regulations legislated by either the Grand Council or by the British parliament would be sent for either approbation by the other as the approval of both parties would be needed in order to legitimize acts or statuses. 6) The Articles of Confederation were written in response to States and their delegates believing that not only did there need to be alliances of the States, but also a written directive on the rules and regulations of the government. The document goes over what the rules, laws, and regulations of the government will be in Articles one-thirteen and how they will be administered. Though the document is written over many different points and proposals, it does not distinguish a separate executive branch for the government. Instead, the articles grant Congress of the Confederation the power of “making the rules for the government and regulations of the said land and naval forces “and even had the power of “directing their operations” (Article 6 paragraph 4). Effectively Congress assembled had dominant control over the alliance’s military, including having the sole power of declaring war or peace. However, there are methods that would either allow states to bypass the direction and permission of the Confederations Congress or to have certain specific powers over the military. For instance, if a state was in impending and unavoidable danger, then the state does not need to wait for Congress to convene in order to raise a defensive army. Congress assembled also had a Committee of the States that they could appoint. The states would have the power to “appointee such other committees and civil officers, but build and equip the navy, to agree on the number of land forces and to make requisitions from each state for its quota.” (Article 9 paragraph 5) So, while Congress assembled had a majority of the executive power under specific circumstances, the States were authorized to have certain executive powers under specific circumstances. A Cerebration [cerebration: to use one’s brain; to think] Of The Colonial Canon Okay. I made up the designation, the Colonial Canon, but I like it. If you mention that concept outside of our group of scholars, no one will know what you are talking about. Schade! And there are many more documents of political and governmental significance from the colonial period that I could have thrown into the canon. I hope you enjoyed reading these documents. They were authored in fascinating political times for the colonists. The documents spanned a period from 1620 to 1781. When the earliest of these colonies was founded, King James I was King of England. The establishment of the colonies occurred during the turbulent reign of King Charles I (March 27, 1625-January 30, 1649) which ended with the unthinkable—the execution of King Charles I on January 30, 1649. The formative years of the colonies took place under Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth