The Mayflower Compact

November 11, 1620

In case you have never read it, here is the Mayflower Compact. This document, though very brief, serves as a landmark legal precedent for what would one day become the United States of America. What principles of governance and justice do you see built into the document?

Happy Thanksgiving!

[This was November 21, old style calendar]

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne Parts of Virginia; doe, by these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equall Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the Generall Good of the Colonie; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Raigne of our Sovereigne Lord, King James of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fiftie-fourth, Anno. Domini, 1620.

                  Mr. John Carver                                               Mr. Stephen Hopkins 

               Mr. William Bradford                                                Digery Priest 

               Mr. Edward Winslow                                             Thomas Williams 

              Mr. William Brewster                                              Gilbert Winslow 

                   Isaac Allerton                                                   Edmund Margesson 

                  Miles Standish                                                        Peter Brown 

                    John Alden                                                        Richard Bitteridge 

                   John Turner                                                          George Soule

                  Francis Eaton                                                        Edward Tilly 

                  James Chilton                                                          John Tilly 

                  John Craxton                                                         Francis Cooke

                John Billington                                                      Thomas Rogers 

                 Joses Fletcher                                                        Thomas Tinker

                John Goodman                                                         John Ridgate 

              Mr. Samuel Fuller                                                     Edward Fuller 

          Mr. Christopher Martin                                               Richard Clark 

             Mr. William Mullins                                                Richard Gardiner 

              Mr. William White                                                  Mr. John Allerton 

             Mr. Richard Warren                                                 Thomas English 

                 John Howland                                                         Edward Doten 

                                                           Edward Liester