Emerging from the difficult circumstances that awaited the pilgrims as they arrived on the mainland of the New World, the battle to survive deep cold of winter, death beginning to tighten its grip on the new settlers from wetness and cold, hunger becoming more evident, and the fear of an utter complete failure... much like the stories that were being heard from the Jamestown settlement and the horrific nature of their end...came a document that would change history...and mark the beginnings of a true democratic nation.
The term "Mayflower Compact" didn't really get its title until 1793 when this document was tagged this title in a book called "A Topographical Description of Dixborough in the county of Plymouth". Up to that point, the Mayflower Compact was referred to as "An Association of Agreement", "Combination", "Solemn Contract", or simply "The Covenant".
So what was this document and what deemed this article so important?
First, one must understand there was a hunger among the the Separatists (the pilgrims). It was a hunger not only for religious freedom....but for economic and social freedom as well.
The way the pilgrims and the passengers of the Mayflower were able to come to the New World, was through a necessary mandate to receive permission from the Crown (the King of England)...to do so.
The pilgrims sent a specific request, known as a patent application, stating their intention to settle on a land farther south than where they actually landed (Cape Cod). The patent they submitted described an area south, near the mouth of the Hudson River at what is present day New York.
After the Mayflower had found harbor farther north...in Massachusetts in Cape Cod Bay, the pilgrims made the decision to remain there, rather than venture south to its original destination.
In order to remain at Cape Cod, English law required the pilgrims submit a new patent stating their intentions( in other words, a new patent application). This would undoubtedly take some time to get this all approved, so in the meantime the pilgrims thought it only right to establish a type of covenant or law between them to enforce this new settlement would be of a civil society with proper moral codes.
So, on November 11th, 1620...upon their landing in the Cape Cod region, they signed an agreement that what has been called, "The Mayflower Compact".
In 1802, President John Quincy Adams referred to this agreement established by the pilgrims as "the only instance in human history of that positive, original, and social impact."
Many historians conclude the popularity and the impact of the Mayflower Compact brought a great influence to the Founding Fathers when drafting two of America's greatest documents: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States.
Although the original draft of the Mayflower Compact did not survive, the historical paper did first appear in a pamphlet describing the first year settlement of the pilgrims at Plymouth called: "Mourt's Relation". Along with this pamphlet, it was discovered William Bradford (governor of Plymouth), had written 2 or possibly 3 versions of the Mayflower Compact, which are kept in a vault presently in the State Library of Massachusetts. It has been also found in 1669 the Mayflower Compact was published in the book "New England Memorial" by Nathaniel Morton.
Here is the Mayflower Compact...in a more modern English:
" In the name of God, Amen. ( Amen is a term we often insert at the conclusion of a prayer, and simply means "So be it.")
We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread ( in that time frame the word "dread"is meant to show respect and be in awe, not in a terror sense) and sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements 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 present, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends foresaid; and by virtue do here enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be, though must meet and convene for the general good of the colony, with which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness wherof we have here unto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of our Sovereign Lord King James of England, of France, and Ireland, the eighteenth and Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620." (Different calendars were being used at that time such as Lunar and Gregorian).
41 Separatists aboard the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620....24 of the men who signed this compact will have died by the spring of 1621....
The term "Mayflower Compact" didn't really get its title until 1793 when this document was tagged this title in a book called "A Topographical Description of Dixborough in the county of Plymouth". Up to that point, the Mayflower Compact was referred to as "An Association of Agreement", "Combination", "Solemn Contract", or simply "The Covenant".
So what was this document and what deemed this article so important?
First, one must understand there was a hunger among the the Separatists (the pilgrims). It was a hunger not only for religious freedom....but for economic and social freedom as well.
The way the pilgrims and the passengers of the Mayflower were able to come to the New World, was through a necessary mandate to receive permission from the Crown (the King of England)...to do so.
The pilgrims sent a specific request, known as a patent application, stating their intention to settle on a land farther south than where they actually landed (Cape Cod). The patent they submitted described an area south, near the mouth of the Hudson River at what is present day New York.
After the Mayflower had found harbor farther north...in Massachusetts in Cape Cod Bay, the pilgrims made the decision to remain there, rather than venture south to its original destination.
In order to remain at Cape Cod, English law required the pilgrims submit a new patent stating their intentions( in other words, a new patent application). This would undoubtedly take some time to get this all approved, so in the meantime the pilgrims thought it only right to establish a type of covenant or law between them to enforce this new settlement would be of a civil society with proper moral codes.
So, on November 11th, 1620...upon their landing in the Cape Cod region, they signed an agreement that what has been called, "The Mayflower Compact".
In 1802, President John Quincy Adams referred to this agreement established by the pilgrims as "the only instance in human history of that positive, original, and social impact."
Many historians conclude the popularity and the impact of the Mayflower Compact brought a great influence to the Founding Fathers when drafting two of America's greatest documents: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States.
Although the original draft of the Mayflower Compact did not survive, the historical paper did first appear in a pamphlet describing the first year settlement of the pilgrims at Plymouth called: "Mourt's Relation". Along with this pamphlet, it was discovered William Bradford (governor of Plymouth), had written 2 or possibly 3 versions of the Mayflower Compact, which are kept in a vault presently in the State Library of Massachusetts. It has been also found in 1669 the Mayflower Compact was published in the book "New England Memorial" by Nathaniel Morton.
Here is the Mayflower Compact...in a more modern English:
" In the name of God, Amen. ( Amen is a term we often insert at the conclusion of a prayer, and simply means "So be it.")
In witness wherof we have here unto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of our Sovereign Lord King James of England, of France, and Ireland, the eighteenth and Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620." (Different calendars were being used at that time such as Lunar and Gregorian).
41 Separatists aboard the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620....24 of the men who signed this compact will have died by the spring of 1621....
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