Question

How was the massachusetts bay colony a partial democracy?

Answer 1

John Winthrop, Along with other Puritan leaders, set up the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a religiously oriented oligarchy. The system of government for this new colony consisted of two courts. The first court comprised the stockholders of the company and the second court comprised the elders of the church. As soon as they arrived in the colony, they assumed absolute control over governing the new settlement. In 1630, membership in the Congregational Church became a requirement of being able to vote on any aspect of the life of the colony. After this, the colony became known as the Bible Commonwealth.

The government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony produced the first democratic institution in America - the town meeting. At this meeting, every church member had a voice and the majority rule was adhered to. In 1634, the governments of the various towns sent two representatives each to the general court. The towns chose these representatives who were to look after the interests of their towns at the general meetings for the entire colony. In 1644, this general court was further divided into a bicameral assembly. The governor and his assistants sat in one chamber and the deputies sat in the other chamber.

The MBC was not a true democracy though because men who were not church members and women all together were not allowed to vote for governor and other positions dealing with the government. Since the government was run by only the church members, it was in the hands of few people.