The Mayflower Compact was signed on 11 November 1620 on board the Mayflower, which was at anchor in Provincetown Harbor. The Mayflower Compact was drawn up after the two main groups of colonists -- some from London and some from Leyden -- began to argue. There were worries of a possible mutiny by some of the passengers.

What were they arguing about? The Pilgrims were supposed to have settled in "Northern Virginia," near present-day Long Island, New York. But the Pilgrims had been blown off course, and landed at Cape Cod, much farther north. If the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth, there would be no government in place there. The Mayflower Compact established that government, by creating a "civil body politic". In a way, this was the first American Constitution.

The Mayflower Compact
1620

          "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."

 

  • John Alden
  • Isaac Allerton
  • John Allerton
  • John Billington
  • William Bradford
  • William Brewster
  • Richard Britteridge
  • Peter Brown
  • John Carver
  • James Chilton
  • Richard Clarke
  • Francis Cooke
  • John Craxton
  • Edward Doten
  • Francis Eaton
  • Thomas English
  • Moses Fletcher
  • Edward Fuller
  • Samuel Fuller
  • Richard Gardiner
  • John Goodman
  • Stephen Hopkins
  • John Howland
  • Edward Leister
  • Edmund Margeson
  • Christopher Martin
  • William Mullins
  • Digery Priest
  • John Ridgdale
  • Thomas Rogers
  • George Soule
  • Miles Standish
  • Edward Tilly
  • John Tilly
  • Thomas Tinker
  • John Turner
  • Richard Warren
  • William White
  • Thomas Williams
  • Edward Winslow
  • Gilbert Winslow

 

 

Terms to define: Use www.dictionary.com or another dictionary to look up definitions for the following terms used in the Mayflower Compact. In most cases, words will have more than one definition. Write only the definition that best fits the context.

 

1. dread (adj.)

2. plant (v.)

3. presents (n.)

4. covenant (v.)

5. civil (adj.)

5. body politic (n.)

6. meet (adj.)

8. compact (n.)

 

Questions:

9. How does the Compact begin? Why do you think it starts that way?

10. How do the colonists describe their location? What would we call this location today (i.e. where is Cape Cod)?

11. Paraphrase: according to the Compact, why have the colonists planted this colony?

12. Paraphrase: basically, what are all the colonists promising to do?

13. What are the laws supposed to be like in the new colony? What does it mean: "the general good of the colony"?

14. Copy: which line says that all colonists have to obey the laws of the colony?

15. Why do you think it was so important that every male colonist sign this piece of paper? Why aren't there any women's names?