failed, and when half a century later a similar attempt was made in
Georgia, the settlers objected so ardently that the founders of the
colony were obliged to grant the privilege of self-government.

A fourth explanation of the rise of democracy in America is that, left
to themselves, the settlers came to feel that self-government was
morally right. Largely removed from the traditions of monarchy, they
soon realized the elemental significance of government. Seeing
government as a device to help people get along together, they
concluded that that government is best which most helps the masses of
the people. The existence of a British monarch was a small factor in
the everyday life of the early settlers, and from this it was a short
step to asserting that his control over them was unjust. Living under
primitive economic conditions, the minds of the people turned
naturally to freely formed agreements as a basis of group action.
Under such conditions democracy appeared to the colonists as moral,
just, and natural.

17. APPLYING THE DEMOCRATIC IDEA.--Partly because of the isolation of
early American life, and partly because England was busy with European
politics, the settlers were left relatively free to work out their
ideas of democracy. The Pilgrims had not yet set foot upon the new
land when they drew up the Mayflower Compact, by the terms of which
they agreed to establish a pure democracy in their new home. In 1639
the inhabitants of three Connecticut towns came together in a mass
meeting, and drew up the Connecticut Fundamental Orders, which many
authorities regard as the first written constitution in this country.
Aside from the fact that the Orders created a small republic in the
heart of the wilderness, they are of importance because they issued
directly from the people, without suggestion from, or direction by,