Mayflower: A Voyage That Changed the World

Author: [US] 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, do bind 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 body politic, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most convenient for the general good of the colony.
On the day after Christmas, 102 settlers landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Those who participated in the signing formed the governing body 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 agreement reached aboard a ship anchored in the 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; to understand America, you must understand this ship. If you do not understand this ship, then you do not yet understand America. A voyage that changed the world, moved the words of a nation.
On November 11, 1620, after 66 days at sea, the Mayflower, a large sailing ship, approached the land. There were 102 passengers aboard. Their destination was the Hudson River estuary, but due to fierce sea conditions, they missed their target and anchored in Provincetown Harbor, off Cape Cod. Since it was already late autumn, they decided to land there instead of continuing the journey. To establish a foundation of self-governance where everyone would be subject to rules, they signed a compact before landing. About one-third of the passengers were Puritans, who had first fled to Leiden, Holland, in search of religious freedom. Later, this group of British colonists was all referred to as 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 compact aboard the ship. In this document, later known as the Mayflower Compact, the signatories pledged to establish a self-governing body politic, one founded on the consent of the governed and governed by law. The compact was signed by every head of household, every adult single man, and the majority of male servants aboard the Mayflower. Women were not included in the signing at that time, as they had no political rights.
On the day after Christmas, 102 settlers landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. Those who participated in the signing formed the governing body 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 agreement reached aboard a ship anchored in the desolate harbor laid the foundation for self-governance and the rule of law in the New World.