Mayflower Compact

What is the Mayflower Compact and what is its significance in American history? The Mayflower Compact was a document the pilgrims wrote to declare self-government from England. When the pilgrims originally set off on the Mayflower, their destination was somewhere in Virginia. They got thrown off course and ended up in New England. When all of the settlers got there, some of them had their minds set on going to Virginia, because that is where they originally were supposed to go.

In this time period, there were no set of rules or laws that said all of the pilgrims had to stay and be loyal to the rest who settled. The few people who decided they were going to Virginia had nothing stopping them. These were the people who weren't originally a part of the congregation of religious dissenters that were leading the expedition. Although they "would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them...." , the pilgrims needed all of the people they had if they were going to settle there and start a new colony. A group of pilgrims got together to write this document which essentially was the first American constitution. This document was intended to give them the right to command those who otherwise could not be commanded.

The Mayflower Compact is significant to American history because it was the first document that allowed for self-government in the first colony in America. On the first floor of the House wing of the United States Capitol building, there is a mural on the walls that depicts the writing and signing of the Mayflower Compact. It also shows the Native Americans that the pilgrims took the land from and a girl next to a mill of some kind showing how the pilgrims lived and settled.

Bradford, William (1898). "Book 2, Anno 1620". Bradford's History "Of Plymouth Plantation".