Dbq Mayflower Compact

Written documents proved to be a major influence on the unification of the American colonies. Beginning as early as 1620, when the Separatist Pilgrims left the jurisdiction of the Church of England and escaped the “Dutchification” of their children in Holland to go to the New World, the establishment of self-government through the Mayflower Compact became present. It was heavily based off of the Magna Carta of 1215 which provided the foundation of the rule of law. Created and signed by the adult males onboard, the document stated that the Pilgrims would “combine [themselves] together into one civil body politic, for [their] better ordering and preservation” (Document 1). It went on to declare that they would abide by the newly formed laws and elect officers. This led to the creation of town meetings, places of direct democracy where men could work together with each other to create laws.

This document attempted “... to temporarily establish that government until a more official one could be drawn up in England that would give them the right to self-govern themselves in New England”( MayflowerHistory.com) . While the Compact could be seen as a basis for the Constitution, in reality it was not.

On September 6, 1620, 102 men, women and children from England boarded a small cargo boat called the Mayflower and set sail for the New World. The passengers left their homes in England in search of religious freedom from the King of England. Today they are known as "pilgrims."

The Mayflower Compact, written and signed in 1620 by forty-one white men aboard a ship called the Mayflower, provided basic laws for those who first arrived in America. Eventually the thirteen colonies expanded, which brought an economical benefit and expanded trade for Britain. However, in the mid-1700s, Britain pushed the colonists to their limits, imposing them with unfair taxes. As a result, in 1775, colonists revolted in the American Revolution. When the war ended, colonists gained their freedom, from Britain, with the signing of The Treaty of Paris (1783).

In 1620, the Pilgrim leaders, who came to America on the ship the Mayflower, wrote the Mayflower Compact. The original document was lost, however a copy of it that was written in William Bradford’s journal, was found. (“Pilgrim Hall Museum…”) The Pilgrims were originally going to land in Virginia, but their ship got off course due to a storm. Instead, the Pilgrims and crewmembers of the ship landed in Cape Cod. They later became known as the Plymouth Colony. (Foner, 66) The Pilgrim leaders wrote the Mayflower Compact when they landed in Cape Cod. The men aboard the Mayflower ship signed the Mayflower Compact, which was named for the ship. (“Pilgrim Hall Museum…”)

When the Mayflower sailed over to the New World, on the boats were Puritans that were looking for a change in the way that their religion was practiced where the Chesapeake settlers came over for gold. Alongside the Puritans were the Separatists who

Jamestown was the Primary land that the colonists settled to in 1607 in the Susan Constant, 13 years later the colonists decided to settle in a land on the Mayflower in Massachusetts that the civilians would call Plymouth. I would've chosen to sail with Bradford in the Mayflower for various justifications which include the purpose, the relationships with comrades, the leader, and resources in the land. The first reason I would sail with the Puritans on the Mayflower compact is that the Puritans were not just in search of land and currency from resources, they were in search of something even more valuable, Religious freedom. The English soldiers (colonists) just searched for fame and wanted to become wealthy.

The Mayflower Compact was a very important document that had given laws to govern the Pilgrims. Without this document there would be no laws, but it was more important then just laws. It would show church members how to serve God and elect church officers. It also had drafted that John Craver will be the govener of the newly established colony. The most important part of the Mayflower Compact was it emphisized there faith in God and his guidance, and all should be equal in Gods eyes. This document is considerd very important and valueable because it had some Democratic

In 1620, a ship called the Mayflower arrived to the New World, with forty-one pilgrims aboard. The forty-one pilgrims were made up of Anglicans, Separatists, and Puritans, who hated each other. The Separatists and Puritans were on this journey for religious freedom, and the Anglicans were there for economic reasons. There was a problem though, they arrived to Cape Cod, Massachusetts when their jurisdiction was Virginia, hence the voyage was sponsored by the Virginia Company. This meant that they were not under the King’s rules, since they're not in the jurisdiction assigned by him.

  The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by separatist Congregationalists who called themselves "Saints". Later they were referred to as Pilgrims or Pilgrim Fathers. They were fleeing from religious persecution by King James of England. They traveled aboard the Mayflower in 1620 along with adventurers, tradesmen, and servants, most of whom were referred to by the Separatists as "Strangers".

The Leiden Pilgrims: The Mayflower Compact On November 11, 1620, after a dangerous Atlantic voyage the Mayflower landed at Cape Cod far north of Boston; their intended destination. Due to unrest and conflict aboard the Mayflower a Compact was written by the Leiden Pilgrims during the voyage. These Pilgrims were known in England as Separatists and they wished to separate from the Church of England; the Separatists called the other men who joined their ship Strangers because they were of different faith. This first governing document recognizes the need to live peacefully together; therefore, they agreed that a corporate government or ‘civil body politic’ was for their collective benefit. In his book Of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford writes about the new settlement.

The Mayflower Compact is remotely similar to the Declaration of Independence in that is generally states the principles of the government. These principles

However, since the voyage was impacted by so many weather and health issues, they had actually ended up settling way further north. This changed the mentality of the passengers, as they sought being outside of Virginia got rid of the validity behind their original contract, and that a new document had to be established in order to maintain peace and order. As result of many intelligent and educated passengers on-board, especially William Brewster being the author of the governing document, the Mayflower Compact was written. The heart and soul of the Mayflower Compacts content is based on the passengers devotion to Christian faith, as well as their sworn loyalty to Lord King James of England. As subjects of King James and followers of God they vowed to work together, create laws, follow the laws they create, and do what is best for the longevity of the colony. On the 11th of November, 1620 the passengers who survived had finally landed in Massachusetts, where they officially witnessed the signing of The Mayflower compact at Cape

I think the document was very clear about what each member was agreeing to. They are coming to this land to preserve their beliefs. This document was a promise to unite the community to remind each member the reason why they came to create their own colony. I think this document served as a reminder of what was expected of the families in the community to accept the “laws” that would be made. The document put emphasis on advancing their Christian faith by coming together to make “just and equall laws”. The intended audience was the Pilgrims on the boat that would make their community. This document is very short, simple and to the point unlike most legal documents and also that religion is a strong point in the document. I think the

The Mayflower compact was very important because it was what kept the pilgrims in line. Without the compact, they would have done whatever they want because there would have been no rules. According to Learningtogive.org, “The drafters of the Compact clearly indicated the importance of the greater good”. What that means is that the members of the ship wanted the choices to be made to be good for the majority. The Mayflower compact was also influenced our present day