1620_The Compact U.S. History Resources

NOVEMBER 11, 1620 The Mayflower Compact

On November 11, 1620, as soon as they made their way behind the shelter of , the Pilgrims drew up an agreement among themselves that became known, after the name of their ship, as the Mayflower Compact. It was designed to serve as the basis of the "civil Body Politick" they intended to establish in "the northern Parts of Virginia." (Note: spelling and punctuation have been modernized, but capitalization and italicization have been kept as in the original.)

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact, names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects constitute, and frame, such just and equal of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, Offices, from time to time, as shall be and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, thought most meet and convenient for the &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of general Good of the Colony; unto which we God, and Advancement of the Christian promise all due Submission and Obedience. Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to Plant the first colony In Witness whereof we have hereunto in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by subscribed our names at Cape Cod the these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Presence of God and one another, covenant Sovereign Lord King James of England, and combine ourselves together into a civil France, and Ireland, the eighteenth and of Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Scotland, the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends, 1620.

QUESTIONS

1. What three purposes does the Compact give for the voyage? What other purposes might the signers have had that they chose not to state explicitly? 2. What sort of political theory concerning the origins and nature of a "body politick" does the Compact point toward? Do you see any conflict between this theory and the signers' description of themselves as the loyal subjects of their "dread Lord," James I? 3. Would a compact of this sort have been possible or legal under a charter like that of the Virginia Company?

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