The Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact

The roots of the Constitution are found in a hastily written charter

Cape Cod, November 11, 1620. – The principle of government by written contract was established in the New World in part because of a mix-up in directions. A band of devout religious separatists, now known as the Piligrims, decided in 1620 to leave England for what they hoped would be the more religiously tolerant shores of the Colonies. To help with expenses, they joined a larger group of non-separatists in an agreement with a joint stock company to settle in the colony of Virginia. After a seven-week journey aboard the Mayflower, the sighted Cape Cod and headed for harbor. The problem was, Cape Cod wasn’t in Virginia, the territory in which they had contacted to settle. As word of the error made way around the ship, several of the more rugged individualists in the party made noises that they would “use their own liberty when they came ashore, arguing that this was not the land for which they had contracted and was, therefore, no-mand land. Fearing anarchy, 41 of the ships passengers pledged allegiance to the King and formed a new colony on the basis of a single, hastily written compact. One of the writers, William Bradford, went on to govern Plymouth Colony for 31 years.

Two ladies, travelers in time, preparing to go back to the 17th century. Photo by Elena

Text of Mayflower Compact

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, 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, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and 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 our selves together into a civil body politic, 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 hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth.

Anno Dom. 1620.

Signed:

John Carver
William Brewster
John Alden
William Mullins
John Craxton
John Howland
John Tilly
Thomas Tinker
John Turner
Digery Priest
Edmond Margeson
Richard Clark
Thomas English
John Goodman

William Bradford
Isaac Allerton
Samuel Fuller
William White
John Billington
Steven Hopkins
Francis Cook
John Rigdale
Francis Eaton
Thomas Williams
Peter Brown
Richard Gardiner
Edward Doten
George Soule

Edward Winslow
Miles Standish
Christopher Martin
James Chilton
Richard Warren
Edward Tilly
Thomas Rogers
Edward Fuller
Moses Fletcher
Gilbert Winslow
Richard Bitteridge
John Allerton
Edward Liester

Mayflower nose. Illustration in public domain.

Mayflower deck. Illustration in public domain