ID: Mayflower Compact
When: November 11, 1620
Who:
- Pilgrims (Separatist Puritans) aboard the Mayflower
What:
A social contract signed by 41 male Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower before landing at Plymouth. It established a civil government based on majority rule and committed the signatories to enact just and equal laws for the general good of the colony. It was not a constitution, but a framework for self-governance.
Impact: Why Significant?:
- Self-Governance: Established a precedent for self-government in the American colonies, preceding formal charters from the English crown. This demonstrated the colonists’ desire for autonomy and their willingness to create their own governing structures.
- Social Contract Theory: Represents an early example of a social contract, where individuals voluntarily surrender certain rights to form a government for mutual benefit and protection. This idea would become central to American political thought.
- Foundation of Plymouth Colony: Provided a basis for the legal and social order of the Plymouth Colony, contributing to its relative success in the challenging early years.
- Limited Scope: It only applied to the Pilgrims who signed it; it did not establish a system for governing the broader indigenous populations.
- Religious Motivation: While establishing a civil government, the compact was underpinned by the Pilgrims’ strong religious beliefs and their desire to create a godly society in the New World.