Democratic ideals were incorporated into colonial governments through many key events in the history of the colonies; firstly through the Formation of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the signing of the Mayflower Compact, representational government and agreement for self-government; with the petition of rights, the colonists then established, with the formation of the colonial government and the separation with the Crown, and the voting system enabling self-government, allowed for the democratic opinion and voice of the colonists to be heard.