American History to 1877

Time 2021-10-18 15:05:09

Web Name: American History to 1877

WebSite: http://americanhistorytoreconstruction.blogspot.com

ID:206756

Keywords:

History,American,to,

Description:

keywords:
description:
PYZAM.COMCLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTSskip to main | skip to sidebarAmerican History to 1877

You say to your soldier, 'Do this' and he does it. But I am obliged to say to the American, 'This is why you ought to do this' and then he does it.- Baron von Steuben

Tuesday, September 21, 2010The Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact, signed by 41 English colonists on the ship Mayflower on November 11, 1620, was the first written framework of government established in what is now the United States. The compact was drafted to prevent dissent amongst Puritans and non-separatist Pilgrims who had landed at Plymouth a few days earlier.

The Mayflower carried not only the Pilgrims but a few other settlers as well. When it arrived at Cape Cod, several hundred miles north of its planned destination in Virginia owing to storms at sea, the passengers realized they were outside the bounds of the governmental authority they had contracted with in England.

William Bradford, the Pilgrim leader, was alarmed to learn that some of the others felt no obligation to respect the rules of the Pilgrims. In his words, they wanted to "use their owne libertie." The male heads of Pilgrim and non-Pilgrim families therefore drew up a compact that bound all signers to accept whatever form of government was established after landing. The compact created a "Civil Body Politic" to enact "just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices." Every adult male had to sign the agreement before going ashore. The compact remained in effect until Plymouth was incorporated into the short-lived Dominion of New England in 1686 and subsequently absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.

Posted byProf. Mikeat10:35 AM

Subscribe to:Posts (Atom)Blog Archive 2010 (1) September (1) The Mayflower CompactAbout MeProf. MikeI am currently an adjunct lecturer in New York State where I teach History and Sociology courses.View my complete profileStafford's HomepageHomepage
Our PresidentsSlide ShowWhite House 101
TextbookThe American PageantLecturePoints by Prof. Michael NagleThe First AmericansEuropean ColoniesNew England ExplorationMiddle Colonies and Lower SouthRoanoke/JamestownMini-MoviesOverview of American HistoryWhy Study History?The World Before 1492The PuritansWashington: Part 1Washington: Part 2Washington: Part 3The Real Face of George WashingtonBen Franklin Part 1Ben Franklin Part 2Paul RevereThe Shot Heard Around the WorldDeclaring IndependenceBenedict ArnoldMolly PitcherSlavery and Indentured ServitudeThe AlamoMapping HistoryTerritory Expansion: U.S. 1783-1853European Territory: 1783Treaty of Paris: 1783Native Americans: 1783Louisiana PurchaseJackson in Florida: 1818Lewis

TAGS:History American to 

<<< Thank you for your visit >>>

Hot Websites