The common people believed that fairies were divided into two different courts the Seelie Court and Unseelie Court. The fairies of the Seelie Court were believed to be more kind and helpful towards humans, giving them gifts or helping them around the house. The Unseelie Court, on the other hand, was occasionally kind toward mortals,but chose to act with malice toward humans. The Unseelie were known to play cruel tricks on humans for amusement. They were often portrayed as Goblin looking creatures.
The English Bill of Rights encouraged a form of government where the rights and liberties of individuals were protected. These ideas and philosophies penetrated the colonies of North America.