Mayflower+Compact

=__Mayflower Compact__= __toc__

== The first known document involving English Colonies in America and their government is known as the Mayflower Compact. It came into existence because the Pilgrims, the people writing and abiding by the rules stated on the document, were now living in the Plymouth Colony. The Plymouth Colony was not under the rule of England at the time of the creation of the Mayflower Compact. Thus, the citizens of Plymouth wanted rules and laws so everything would run smoothly. They also wanted to live without distractions involving problems among the citizens, take care of prospective problems quickly, and write a simple document.

The Reasons for the Writing
The Pilgrims were a group of English people wishing to separate from the Protestant Church of their country. They were successful in doing so by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean in September of 1620. They aimed to land in Virginia, but instead landed on Cape Cod Bay on November 9, 1620. There wasn't any type of government in Cape Cod since Britain wasn't reigning over it. The Pilgrims wanted a civilized place to live where happiness and peace would be abound. This is why the Mayflower Compact was written.

History of the Document
The autographing of the Mayflower Compact occurred on November 11th, 1620. The 41 grown men on the //Mayflower// all signed the Mayflower Compact. We know the words of the document, even though it is supposedly lost, by the studying of //Of Plymouth Plantation//, which is William Bradford's, a signer of the Mayflower compacts', journal. We can ensure that what //Of Plymouth Plantation// says is correct because another piece of literature, //Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth//, says the same thing as William Bradford's journal.

Mayflower Compact
Brief and to the point are good words to describe the Mayflower Compact. It states that the signers are still under rule of King James and that they don't want to make a new country. Rather, all the Pilgrims were wanting to do is get away from the church of the country to which they were still loyal. This is how the document goes:  "In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread 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 advancement 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 Presents solemnly and mutually promise in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves into a civil Body Politik for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by Virtue herof, to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the Good of the Colony unto which we promise all due submission and obedience."
 * __The Mayflower Compact__**

The Compact's Causes
The Mayflower Compact was a good document for the Pilgrims to live by. It stated that the Pilgrims would do their best to have peace among themselves. For the most part they did, and they were a great example by which the future citizens of America could live. The Mayflower Compact was a great thing for America because the Pilgrims lived by its rules, and the past, present, and future citizens of America can live by the Pilgrim's example.

A Good Note to Start Off On
The Mayflower Compact was a great "starter" document for the founding of America. Many people wanted to live in an environment that had peace around everywhere and where everyone was being nice to each other. These things were stated in the document, and this is why many people came to America. The Pilgrim's passion for peace was a huge part in the founding of America because without what they wrote in the Mayflower Compact, our country wouldn't be as well off as it is today.