Purpose of the Mayflower Compact
Rules: Why did the pilgrims create the Mayflower Compact?
The Mayflower Compact was written out of necessity as a means of establishing a form of self-government to ensure that certain ideas were followed. This Mayflower Compact stipulated that governors would be elected from amongst the colonists. This process was familiar to the colonists, as this election process was a common church practice. Colonist leaders William Bradford and William Brewster helped craft the document to help resolve conflict and establish general order. The Mayflower Compact served two main purposes.
Purpose #1 of the Mayflower Compact.
To establish order and prevent escalating conflict.
Purpose #2 of the Mayflower Compact.
To establish a new government built on faith.
Historians are unclear as to the original/primary author of the text, but there is speculation that the most likely candidate was William Brewster. Who was considered the spiritual leader of the voyage. The original copy of the Mayflower Compact has since been lost, but we can find a copy in Mourt’s Relation, written by Edward Winslow and William Bradford. This record was written in 1622 as an account of the settling of the Plymouth colony.
The text of the Mayflower Compact is incredibly short, only around 200 words, which means the purpose statement can be distilled into a few key points.
This is what the Mayflower Compact says...
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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, 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 ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends before said; 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 here under-subscribed our names at Cape Cod the November second in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James of England France and Ireland the 18th and of Scotland the 54th 1620.
The Mayflower Compact was the first statement of government made in America. It made the Plymouth colony uniquely different since it was a covenant or pledge between the people and their faith. The people wanted to be self-governed, which means that each person would govern themselves and control their behavior and actions based on their own set of principles. Individuals would establish rules and laws necessary so that everyone could live together peacefully.
The Mayflower Compact stated the purposes of the colony: “When faith is our companion, as we walk the road of life, there is help for every problem and grace for care and striving. And we’ll find that we’ve been happy all along the path we’ve trod when in faith we’ve made the journey hand-in-hand along with each other.”
Let’s take a moment to reflect.
Pretend that your teacher put you in a group with 3-4 of your classmates to work on a project. What guidelines would you need to set to ensure your group worked together well and successfully completed the project?
Make a list of guidelines you think would be helpful for your group.
“Government is strongest of which every man feels himself a part.”
– Thomas Jefferson
