Mayflower
Compact
November 11, 1620
Off Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Some religious terms…
•
•
•
•
Orthodox – “Right Way”
Heterodox – “Crooked Way”
Dissent – “Disagree cordially”
Puritan – Wanted to “purify” the
church
• Pilgrim – Wanted to move away from
the church’s sinfulness.
In 1608, the Pilgrims…
Left the “heterodox” church in England for the
Netherlands, which had religious freedom.
Became disgusted with the Dutch permissiveness, and
in 1619 asked the Virginia Company for permission
to settle north of Jamestown colony.
In 1620, 120 souls left England on the “Mayflower”
bound for the new world. Half were orthodox
“saints,” half were “strangers.”
In the harbor, before they landed, 41 agreed to a form
of government that would protect both all.
But what form of government did they choose?
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTVmtM9WiAE9v4qweb48TBr8Wy1MSK4ZAj7Ev1VqeMpnw7oq7WFWWnxKb6
WHAT FORM OF
GOVERNMENT DID THEY
CHOOSE?
The Mayflower Compact…
Was the first “self-government” ever at the
time…
Had no mention of a constitution or rulers.
Had no provision for majority rule.
The signers would together create laws “for the
generall good of ye colonie” and would
agree to “due submission and obedience to
the laws.”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Mayflower_Compact_Bradford.jpg/2
20px-Mayflower_Compact_Bradford.jpg
The Mayflower Compact…
What was it?
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_subj_e.jpg
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/0000096797-thanks003-004.jpg
The Plymouth Bay Colony…
Suffered through the first winter
Was helped by a Native American, Squanto, to
grow crops and find food.
Celebrated the first Thanksgiving.
Was able to find a reasonable degree of safety
and prosperity under their leader, Pastor
William Brewster (but not Love and
Wrestling)
Was later joined by Puritans from England,
who changed the nature of the colony
somewhat dramatically.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/images/salem1.jpg