The journey of the Mayflower in 1620 is a pivotal moment in American history, not just for the Pilgrims who sought religious freedom, but for all those who came after. On board this ship were 102 souls: 50 men, 19 women, and 33 young adults and children. While 41 were Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution from the Church of England, the rest, labeled “strangers” by the Pilgrims, were a mix of merchants, craftsmen, indentured servants, and orphans. This diverse group, initially bound for land near the Hudson River under a contract with the Virginia Company, found themselves ashore in Massachusetts due to navigational challenges. This unexpected landing sparked discord and ultimately led to a groundbreaking agreement: the Mayflower Compact.
The “strangers” on the Mayflower argued that their contract with the Virginia Company was null and void since they had landed outside the company’s territory. This defiance led to what Pilgrim leader William Bradford described as “discontented and mutinous speeches.” The Pilgrims, acutely aware of the need for order and unity to establish a successful colony, recognized the urgency of the situation. Without a recognized government in this new, uncharted territory, the very fabric of their nascent community was at risk of unraveling.
The Genesis of Self-Governance: The Mayflower Compact
To prevent chaos and ensure the survival of their colony, Pilgrim leaders took decisive action. They understood that cooperation and a common set of rules were essential for the collective good. Thus, the concept of the Mayflower Compact was born – a temporary agreement to establish self-governance based on the consent of the governed.
On November 11, 1620, forty-one adult men, including two indentured servants, put their signatures to the Mayflower Compact. While the exact authorship remains debated, the well-educated Pilgrim pastor William Brewster is often credited with its drafting. Among the signatories was also Myles Standish, a military officer hired by the Pilgrims to provide leadership and security in the New World, further emphasizing the practical need for structure and authority in their new settlement.
Purpose and Principles of the Compact
The original Mayflower Compact document is lost to history, but its widely accepted text comes from William Bradford’s journal, Of Plymouth Plantation. This document outlined a foundational agreement for both Pilgrims and non-Pilgrims, all for the sake of their shared colonial endeavor.
The Mayflower Compact established several key principles:
- Loyalty to the Crown: The colonists affirmed their allegiance to King James of England, despite their pursuit of self-governance in the colony.
- Self-Legislation: The signatories agreed to create and abide by just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices for the overall good of the colony.
- Unified Society: The compact emphasized the creation of a single, cohesive society where individuals would work together to advance its interests.
- Christian Faith: The document also included a commitment to living in accordance with the Christian faith, reflecting the religious motivations of the Pilgrim founders.
Plymouth Colony and the Enduring Legacy
With the Mayflower Compact in place, the colonists moved forward with establishing Plymouth Colony. John Carver was elected as the first governor on November 21, 1620. Despite facing a devastating first winter marked by starvation, disease, and inadequate shelter, the colony persevered. Many historians argue that the Mayflower Compact played a crucial role in fostering the necessary unity and commitment that enabled the colonists to survive those initial hardships.
While John Carver died in April 1621 and was succeeded by William Bradford, the principles of cooperation and self-governance enshrined in the Mayflower Compact continued to shape Plymouth Colony. As the colony grew, a General Court was established, with elected representatives from each town, marking an important step towards representative government.
Why the Mayflower Compact Remains Historically Significant
The Mayflower Compact’s importance lies in its status as the first document in the New World to establish self-government. It served as the governing framework for Plymouth Colony until 1691, when it was absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
More broadly, the Mayflower Compact stands as a pioneering and successful experiment in democracy. It demonstrated the power of a social contract, where individuals voluntarily agree to be governed by laws they themselves create for the common good. This concept profoundly influenced subsequent colonists in their pursuit of independence from British rule and significantly shaped the foundations of the United States of America. The principles of self-governance and consent of the governed, first articulated in the Mayflower Compact, resonate throughout American history and continue to be cornerstones of American democracy.
Text of the Mayflower Compact
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 Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements 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 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 Officers, 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.
Sources:
- Mayflower Compact: 1620. The Avalon Project.
- Mayflower Compact: A Foundation for Our Constitution. ACLJ.
- Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. HistoryofMassachusetts.org.
- The Plymouth Colony Archive Project. http://www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/Maysource.html.
- The Mayflower Compact. Constitutional Rights Foundation.
