Mayflower Compact facts for kids
The Mayflower Compact was a very important agreement made by the Pilgrims. They were people who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a ship called the Mayflower. They were looking for a place where they could freely practice their Christian beliefs.
This agreement was signed on November 11, 1620. It was signed by 41 men out of more than one hundred passengers on the ship. They signed it when they first landed in what is now the United States of America. At that time, only men were allowed to sign such documents. Sadly, 21 of the 41 men who signed the Compact died during their first year in the new land.
Contents
What Was the Mayflower Compact?
The Mayflower Compact was the first set of rules for the Plymouth Colony. It was like a promise among the settlers to create their own government. They agreed to follow fair laws for everyone's good. This was important because they landed in a place without an existing government.
Why Was the Compact Needed?
The Pilgrims were supposed to settle in Virginia. But strong winds blew their ship off course. They ended up much further north, in what is now Massachusetts. This area was outside the control of the English government they had a permit for. Because of this, some people on the ship thought they didn't have to follow any rules. To keep order and prevent chaos, the leaders decided to create their own agreement.
How Did the Compact Work?
The Mayflower Compact was a simple document. It said that the signers would form a "civil body politic." This means they would create a government for themselves. They promised to make "just and equal laws" for everyone. These laws would help the colony survive and thrive. It was an early example of self-government in America.
Who Signed the Mayflower Compact?
Here is a list of the 41 men who signed this important agreement:
- John Carver
- William Bradford
- Edward Winslow
- William Brewster
- Isaac Allerton
- Myles Standish
- John Alden
- John Turner
- Francis Eaton
- James Chilton
- John Crackston
- John Billington
- Moses Fletcher
- John Goodman
- Samuel Fuller
- Christopher Martin
- William Mullins
- William White
- Richard Warren
- John Howland
- Stephen Hopkins
- Degory Priest
- Thomas Williams
- Gilbert Winslow
- Edmund Margeson
- Peter Browne
- Richard Britteridge
- George Soule
- Edward Tilley
- John Tilley
- Francis Cooke
- Thomas Rogers
- Thomas Tinker
- John Ridgdale
- Edward Fuller
- Richard Clarke
- Richard Gardiner
- John Allerton
- Thomas English
- Edward Doty
- Edward Leister
Images for kids
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Bradford's transcription of the Compact
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1920 U.S. postage stamp depicting the signing of the compact
See also
In Spanish: Pacto del Mayflower para niños
