The documents summarize founding colonial documents from Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland that established systems of governance. The First Virginia Charter established councils to govern the colonies according to laws given by the King of England. The Mayflower Compact established a civil body politic to enact just laws for order and preservation. The Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony established that the governor could assemble the company to consult on affairs and that courts could be held with seven assistants. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut set rules for governor terms and taxation. The New England Articles of Confederation established jurisdiction among colonies and requirements to aid invaded colonies. The Maryland Toleration Act prohibited persecution based on religion.

1. Colonial Documents Excerpts
The First Virginia Charter
“And wee doe alsoe ordaine, establishe and agree for [us], our heires and successors, that
eache of the saide Colonies shall have a Counsell which shall governe and order all matters
and causes which shall arise, growe, or happen to or within the same severall Colonies,
according to such lawes, ordinannces and instructions as shalbe in that behalfe, given and
signed with our hande or signe manuell and passe under the Privie Seale of our realme of
Englande; eache of which Counsells shall consist of thirteene parsons and to be ordained,
made and removed from time to time according as shalbe directed and comprised in the same
instructions;”
The Mayflower Compact
“.....Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the
Honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first colony in the northern Parts of
Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one another,
covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and
Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute,
and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to
time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto
which we promise all due Submission and Obedience…..”
Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
“.....That from henceforth for ever, there shalbe one Governor, one Deputy Governor, and
eighteene Assistants of the same Company, to be from tyme to tyme constituted, elected and
chosen out of the Freemen of the saide Company, for the twyme being, in such Manner and
Forme as hereafter in theis Presents is expressed, which said Officers shall applie themselves
to take Care for the best disposeing and ordering of the generall buysines and Affaires of, for,
and concerning the said Landes and Premisses hereby mentioned…..”
“......That the Governor of the saide Company for the tyme being, or in his Absence by Occasion
of Sicknes or otherwise, the Deputie Governor for the tyme being, shall have Authoritie from
tyme to tyme upon all Occasions, to give order for the assembling of the saide Company, and
calling them together to consult and advise of the Bussinesses and Affaires of the saide
Company, and that the said Governor, Deputie Governor, and Assistants of the saide Company,
for the tyme being, shall or maie once every Moneth, or oftener at their Pleasures, assemble
and houlde and keepe a Courte or Assemblie of themselves, for the better ordering and
directing of their Affaires, and that any seaven or more persons of the Assistants, togither with
the Governor, or Deputie Governor soe assembled, shalbe saide, taken, held, and reputed to
be, and shalbe a full and sufficient Courte or Assemblie of the said Company, for the handling,

2. ordering, and dispatching of all such Buysinesses and Occurrents as shall from tyme to tyme
happen…..”
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
“It is Ordered, sentenced, and decreed, that no person be chosen Governor above once in two
years…”
“It is Ordered, sentenced, and decreed, that when any General Court upon the occasions of the
Commonwealth have agreed upon any sum, or sums of money to be levied upon the several
Towns within this Jurisdiction, that a committee be chosen to set out and appoint what shall be
the proportion of every Town to pay of the said levy, provided the committee be made up of an
equal number out of each Town.”
New England Articles of Confederation
“It is further agreed that the Plantations which at present are or hereafter shall be settled within
the limits of the Massachusetts shall be forever under the Massachusetts and shall have
peculiar jurisdiction among themselves in all cases as an entire body, and that Plymouth,
Connecticut, and New Haven shall each of them have like peculiar jurisdiction and government
within their limits…..”
“It is further agreed, that if any of these Jurisdictions or any Plantation under or in combination
with them, be invaded by any enemy whomsoever, 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….”
Maryland Toleration Act
“....that noe person or persons whatsoever within this Province, or the Islands, Ports, Harbors,
Creekes, or havens thereunto belonging professing to beleive in Jesus Christ, shall from
henceforth bee any waies troubled, Molested or discountenanced for or in respect of his or her
religion nor in the free exercise thereof within this Province or the Islands thereunto belonging
nor any way compelled to the beleife or exercise of any other Religion against his or her
consent…..”