Mayflower - A Voyage That Changed the World

Author: Christopher Hilton
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In the name of God, Amen. We, the subscribers, being solemly, freely, and voluntarily in the presence of God and one another, doe acknowledge ourselves in the presence of God, to be bound by the following articles in the nature of a, to be performed between us, the inhabitants of the plantations of New England, in the left hand of the river of Connecticut: In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, being passed the seas to plant the first colony in the northern parts of New England, do by these presents 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 aforesaid; And by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and establish, for our said colony, a just and equal lawes, ordinaunces, 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.
On the day after Christmas, 102 settlers landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Those who participated in the signing formed the of the Plymouth Colony, which had the rights to elect officials, pass laws, and admit new voting members. On November 11 of that year, the signed on a ship anchored in a desolate harbor laid the foundation for self-governance and the rule of law in the New World. This was a mysterious ship, carrying America. Through this ship, you can understand America; if you want to understand America, you must go through this ship. If you do not understand this ship, then you do not yet understand America. A voyage that changed the world moved a nation's words.
On November 11, 1620, after 66 days of drifting at sea, the Mayflower, a large sailing ship, approached the land. There were 102 passengers aboard. Their destination was the Hudson River area, but due to fierce sea storms, they missed their target and anchored at Provincetown Harbor, outside Cape Cod, in what is now Massachusetts. Since it was already late autumn, they decided to land there instead of continuing the journey. To establish a self-governing foundation where everyone could be governed, they signed a before landing. About one-third of the passengers were Puritans, who had initially fled to Leiden, Holland, in search of religious freedom. Later, all of these British colonists were called Pilgrims. They had negotiated with the London Virginia Company and reached an agreement, under which the Virginia Company authorized them to choose a place on its vast lands to settle and govern themselves. Forty-one male passengers signed the aboard the ship. In this document, later known as the Mayflower Compact, the signatories pledged to establish a self-governing body, one that was founded on the consent of the governed and would be ruled by law. The was signed by every head of household, every adult single man, and most male servants aboard the Mayflower. Women were not included because they did not have political rights at the time.
On the day after Christmas, 102 settlers landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Those who participated in the signing formed the of the Plymouth Colony, which had the rights to elect officials, pass laws, and admit new voting members. On November 11 of that year, the signed on a ship anchored in a desolate harbor laid the foundation for self-governance and the rule of law in the New World.