Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact

In the 1600s, the pilgrims wanted to leave England to build a Christian community free from the British government; they also wanted to separate from the Church of England, thus earning the name separatists. In September 1620 the Pilgrims went on their voyage across the Atlantic, which was a 3,000 mile journey. On November 9th, 1620 the Pilgrims anchored in a harbor at Cape Cod.

After they arrived almost instantly an argument broke out. Several "strangers" made "discontented and mutinous speeches." They apparently argued that, since the Cape Cod area was outside the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company, its rules and regulations no longer applied. The troublemakers threatened to do as they pleased since no one had the power to command them. That's when the pilgrim leaders realized that they needed some type of temporary government.

So, the pilgrims and the strangers made a written compact among themselves. The Mayflower Compact was probably composed by William Brewster, but nobody knows for sure. The compact was signed by 41 of the 102 passengers; all of them were male colonists except two who were indentured servants. Immediately after the compact was signed the signers elected John Carver as governor of the colony. The colony was then called the Plymouth Plantation. Not even a year later Governor Carver died and William Bradford replaced him.

The Mayflower Compact is and was very important to American History because it helped establish a social contract within the community of colonist, it is the first known document of self government in America, it expressed mutual regard in the sight of God.