by Charlie Danger

Created on: November 01, 2009

What Was the Mayflower Compact

Much like our constitution, The Mayflower Compact was a religion based consensus of what was thought to be right and just by the majority of settlers. Used to set up a government within the new colonies and form laws which were free from the forcing hand of British law, the Mayflower Compact was signed by the 41 male member of the Mayflower who traveled across the Pacific Ocean to form the new colonies in 1620. Most of these men were separatists who were being persecuted by their fomer government in England. According to Nathaniel Morton's 1669 New England's Memorial the signers of the compact were John Carver, John Turner, William Bradford, Francis Eaton, Edward Winslow, James Chilton, William Brewster, John Crakston, Samuel Fuller, Degory Priest, Christopher Martin, Thomas Williams, William Mullins, Gilbert Winslow, William White, Edmond Margeson, Richard Warren, Peter Brown, John Howland, Richard Bitterage, Stephen Hopkins, George Soule, Edward Tilley, Richard Clark, John Tilly, Richard Gardiner, Francis Cooke, John Allerton, Thomas Rogers, Thomas English, Thomas Tinker, Edward Dotey, John Rigdale, Edward Leister, and Edward Fuller.

It is supposed that the original compact is lost but both William Bradford and Edward Winslow have surviving and coinciding written accounts which corroborate the accuracy of each other. According to William Bradford's Journal Of Plymouth Plantation and Edward Winslow's Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth the following are the contents 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 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 Honour 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.

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