Democracy was a growing idea in the 13 English colonies prior to 1750. Democracy is the government by the people which is exercised either directly or through representatives elected by the people. The idea of self government was still a rising idea amongst the colonies. In America, democracy was carried out to a certain extent prior to 1750. The idea of self government was carried out to different extents by the Southern Colonies, the New England colonies, and the Middle colonies.
             At first, the southern colonies did not have much of a democracy. These aristocratic colonies prominently followed the governing of the crown. Also, there was no separation of church and state prior to 1750. The dominate Anglican Church controlled the religious and social practices of the southerners and lived by the king's rules. Prior to 1750 the low level of democracy led to a more rigid social class structure. The aristocrats, white men who owned land, were the only people allowed to vote in order to set the laws and standards of the colonies. The furthest extent of democracy prior to 1750 in the south was the House of Burgesses. This legislative branch acted as the first representative government in the new world and somewhat guided the colony in their direction with respect to the king of England.
             New England was a little more moderate towards democracy than the Southern colonies. The first site of a democratic move was shown when the pilgrims established the Mayflower Compact as an agreement to form a government that will submit to the will of the majority. This impacted history because it established a precedent for later state constitutions and self-government. Later on, self-government in New England consisted of a two-house legislative branch and a governor elected by the people and not the King. Also, men who owned land were able to participate in "town meetings" and discuss the issues brought up by the colony. Th...