Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact is an agreement composed and written by a consensus of new Settles arriving in November
1620 at the New Plymouth. The settlers had travelled on the ship Mayflower across the ocean and were anchored in Provincetown Harbor near Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
The agreement was drawn up with equal and fair laws to enhance the settlement. More importantly, it was drawn with the will of the majority who wanted to see that settlement is carried out successfully. Passengers of Mayflower were not worried of their settlement because there was a government in place. Earlier settlers had faced difficulties because there was no government to take care of their rights.
The Compact was therefore created for the well-being and survival of the settlers. There were 41 male adults in Mayflower and they all signed the agreement. It was the first written law for the land. Therefore, it determined authority within the settlement until 1691.
With the agreement, the colony was freed of English Law. It was also devised to set up a new government within the settlers bearing in mind that it was written by the people it governed.
What did the Mayflower Compact Say?
According to different sources, the original copy of the Mayflower Compact was lost under unclear circumstances. However, the compact is clear in the writings of William Bradford’s journal of Plymouth Plantation. The writings are also available in a Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in Edward Winslow’s Mourt’s Relation.
The Mayflower Compact reads
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620’’.
Why was Mayflower Compact signed and by who?
The names of the people who signed the Mayflower compact are published in Nathaniel Morton’s 1669 New England’s Memorial. Nathaniel was the nephew of William Bradford. Some of the popular people who signed the agreement include Isaac Allerton, John Alden, Myles Standish, William Bradford, John Carver, William Bradford and Edward Winslow.
They signed the agreement believing that a covenant will be honored between man and God and between man and man. It is also good to note that America’s Founding Fathers stood by word of God and have been quoted in many books to living by Biblical values.
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