to their own devices . The others knew the survival of the community depended on everyone ’ s contributions , so they crafted an agreement establishing the consent of the governed under “ just and equal laws ,” now known as the Mayflower Compact . Mindful of the Separatist beliefs practiced by the Saints , the Church of England espoused by King James and undoubtedly many of the Strangers , and possibly Catholicism that may have been followed by some of the colonists , the drafters of the Mayflower Compact did not elevate any of these beliefs above the others . Instead , the document referred to “ God ” and the “ Christian Faith ” in broad terms . Assuaged by this agreement , the Strangers and Saints joined together to establish Plymouth Colony .
Other colonies expanded upon these radical principles . For example , the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut eschewed religious qualifications for voters and affirmed “ the foundation of authority is in the free consent of the people .” Roger Williams founded Rhode Island as a refuge for people who were persecuted within other colonies because of their religious beliefs , and likewise expanded political freedoms . Quaker William Penn drafted the Pennsylvania Frame of Government guaranteeing freedom of religion , ensuring basic rights of citizens , and establishing a balance of governmental powers to inhibit authoritarian rulers .
The founding documents creating the United States drew upon these revolutionary precedents , as well as the writings of the Enlightenment thinkers on both sides of the Atlantic , who had also been influenced by the colonial experiments in the New World . Building on the concept of freedom of religion and respecting diversity of beliefs , the Declaration of Independence makes no mention of Christianity , favoring broad terms such as “ the Laws of Nature and Nature ’ s God ,” “ Creator ,” “ Supreme Judge of the world ,” and “ the protection of divine Providence .” This famous text also pronounces that “ all men are created equal ” and that “ Governments are instituted among Men , deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed .”
and English colonists brought African slaves to Jamestown , Va ., in 1619 . Women were legally subordinate to men . When the U . S . Constitution was ratified , only six percent of population in the United States – white , male property-owners – could vote , and 20 percent of the population were slaves – a practice unfortunately endorsed by the new Constitution . Equality , freedom of religion and belief , and consent of the governed have been elusive concepts for many throughout our nation ’ s history .
Yet the words of our Constitution ’ s preamble exude the optimism our forefathers dreamed for our country – that “ We the people , in order to form a more perfect union ,” would combine ourselves together , just as the Saints and Strangers entered into a “ combination ” to form a government “ for the general good ” – that we would strive to make continual progress toward the virtues and values upon which our nation was founded , including equality , freedom of religion and belief , and consent of the governed .
During this season of Thanksgiving , I am grateful our nation continues to strive toward equality and toward dismantling historically ensconced inequities , while celebrating the mosaic of our diversity across the spectrum of our races , ethnicities , national origins , religions , beliefs , genders , sexual orientations , abilities , ages , and other differences . And I am thankful my ancestor , the rabble-rousing John Billington , helped set the stage for the Mayflower Compact and its legacy within our Constitution and our government based on justice and equality , freedom of religion and belief , and consent of the governed – principles continually strengthened through active participation in the democratic process .
The U . S . Constitution also embraces these principles . Regarding the consent of the governed , the document itself was submitted for ratification by the people , and it institutes a representative democracy to maintain the people ’ s involvement in self-governance . With respect to freedom of religion and belief , the Constitution does not mention a deity or Christianity , and the only reference to religion in the original Constitution is a ban on religious requirements for government officials , ensuring they may practice any or no religion . The Bill of Rights , ratified several years after the Constitution , contains the renowned Establishment Clause . The Fourteenth Amendment mandates that “ nor shall any State … deny to any person … the equal protection of the laws .”
Of course , no human institution is perfect , and our nation has experienced its share of tragedies . The explorers and settlers brought devastation and near annihilation to great numbers of indigenous peoples who originally inhabited this land , the repercussions of which their descendants still experience to this day . Spanish colonists brought enslaved Africans to St . Augustine , Fla ., in 1565 ,
Julia Ernst with her mother , Janet Ernst – both Mayflower descendants .
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