The Mayflower Compact, originally titled Agreement Between the Settlers of New Plymouth, was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the men aboard the Mayflower, consisting of Separatist Puritans, adventurers, and tradesmen. Although the agreement contained a pledge of loyalty to the King, the Puritans and other Protestant Separatists were dissatisfied with the state of the Church of England, the limited extent of the English Reformation and reluctance of King James I of England to enforce further reform.

The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard ship on , 1620. Signing the covenant were 41 of the ship's 101 passengers; who had, as a result, been convicted of mutiny and sentenced to death, but was pardoned, and is thought to be the Stephen Hopkins aboard the Mayflower

Text

right|thumb|Bradford's transcription of the Compact

The original document has been lost,

The document was signed on .

See also

  • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1638)
  • Instrument of Government (1653)
  • List of Mayflower passengers
  • List of Mayflower passengers who died in the winter of 1620–1621
  • Mayflower
  • Mayflower Compact signatories
  • Mayflower passengers who died at sea November/December 1620

References

  • "Mayflower Compact" at History Channel