Mayflower Compact Reading Analysis:
What, Why and Proof
Directions: Read the provided document. Then answer the following questions. Be sure to support
your answers with evidence when it asks for it.
Background Information of the Mayflower Compact
Seeking religious freedom and new lives, more than 100 Pilgrims sailed for
America on September 16, 1620. Of these, 35 were Separatists from Leiden, Holland.
The Pilgrims sailed on the ship Mayflower. It was decided they would sail to Virginia.
The crossing was hard. High winds and waves shook the Mayflower. The small ship
blew north. On November 9, land was sighted in Massachusetts. A month later, a
small party found Plymouth Harbor. There the Pilgrims landed. Their new lives had
begun. Everyone was eager to get off of the boat, but the Pilgrim leaders refused to
let anyone leave until they had a plan and an agreement. This led to the Mayflower
Compact. The Mayflower Compact was an agreement to live under new laws. In
America, the Pilgrims were under no laws and this was worrisome. There was talk
among some of them that they would not take orders from anyone. Their leaders
began to worry. If nothing were done, the whole plan could fall apart.
William Brewster was the head of the group. Brewster had an idea. The Pilgrims
would write their own set of laws. Everyone in the group would sign the paper. They
would agree to live by these laws. This would hold the group together. The paper was
called the Mayflower Compact. It was signed on November 21, 1620. Why was this
important? It was the first step in America for Europeans to govern themselves.
People joined together to make their own laws. Democracy took root in a New World
colony.
The Compact is often described as America's first constitution, but it is not a
constitution in the sense of being a basic explanation of government. Its importance
lies in the belief that government is a form of covenant, and that for government to be
legitimate, it must get permission from the consent of the governed. The settlers
recognized that individually they might not agree with all of the actions of the
government they were creating; but they, and following generations, understood that
government could be legitimate only if it started with the consent, agreement, and
permission of those people who it would rule over.
Is it a primary or secondary
source? How can you tell?
What was the text about that you
just read? Restate, IN YOUR OWN
WORDS, what you just read.
(Summarize - Who, What, Why,
When, Where, How =
“factual/reporting”)
Select ONE inference that you
(P.1) The Pilgrims did not end up where they originally set out for.
can draw from what you just read.
Support Mr. Nakanishi’s inference “
with textual evidence.
(P.1) Not everyone on the boat was on the ‘same page’.
“Quote” exactly 1-4 sentences (or
parts of sentences) that helps to
prove the point/inference.
“
*NOTE - the (P.aragraph) number is
listed before the sentence. Erase
the other three options you aren’t
using.
“
(P.2) Brewster came up with a great solution.
(P.3) The Mayflower Compact was the root of American
Democracy.
“
Support the following claim with
evidence from the text and your
ideas/analysis…
CLAIM: (The Mayflower Compact
was an important step toward
American Democracy.)
Definition of Democracy:
“government by the people;
especially rule of the majority”
Write 5-7 sentences of your
ideas/analysis, make sure you use
textual evidence that is “quoted” as
well.
The Mayflower Compact was an important step toward
American Democracy.