The pilgrims created the mayflower compact when they were anchored off the shore of Massachusetts. Why did the not create a government before leaving england?
The Pilgrims did not create a government before leaving England primarily because they were not able to freely practice their religious beliefs within the Church of England. The Pilgrims were a Separatist group who believed in separating from the Church of England and forming their own congregations. However, their Separatist views were not tolerated, leading to persecution and even imprisonment in England.
Therefore, they decided to leave England and seek religious freedom elsewhere. They first moved to the Netherlands, but they faced challenges there as well, including cultural differences and economic struggles. In addition, they feared losing their English identity and their children assimilating into Dutch culture. These difficulties ultimately compelled them to seek a new life in North America.
During their preparations to journey to the New World, they did not possess the legal authority to establish a formal government in England. Furthermore, the Pilgrims were bound by the terms of their agreement with the financial backers of their voyage, known as the Merchant Adventurers. This agreement required them to establish a colony under the royal charter issued by King James I, which meant they were not authorized to create a government until they reached their destination.
Upon their arrival in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, and while they were anchored offshore, they realized they had to create a system of governance to maintain order and ensure the survival of their community. This led them to draft and sign the Mayflower Compact, a document that established a temporary form of self-government. The compact was a social contract among the settlers, outlining their agreement to form a civil body politic and abide by laws passed for the general good of the colony. It was an important step towards the establishment of democratic principles and self-rule in the New World.
The decision of the Pilgrims not to create a government before leaving England can be attributed to a few key reasons:
1. Timing: The Pilgrims had initially intended to settle in the northern part of the Virginia Colony. However, due to poor weather conditions and navigational challenges, they ended up landing in what is now Massachusetts. This unexpected change in their destination may have caused them to prioritize finding a suitable place to settle before focusing on establishing a government.
2. Separatist Status: The Pilgrims, being Separatists, sought religious freedom and wanted to establish their own self-governing community. They likely saw the journey to the New World as an opportunity to create a new society based on their religious principles and principles of self-governance.
3. Speed and Consensus: The decision to create a government was not necessarily neglected but rather postponed until they could secure a suitable location for settlement. The Mayflower Compact was created and signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower before disembarking. This document established a framework for self-governance and demonstrated the willingness of the Pilgrims to work together and establish order within their community.
In summary, the Pilgrims' decision to delay creating a government before leaving England can be attributed to the unforeseen circumstances of their landing location, their desire for self-governance, and the practical need to find a suitable place to settle first.
The Pilgrims did not create a government before leaving England because they were not originally planning to establish a colony in North America. The Pilgrims, who were separatists seeking religious freedom, had initially settled in the Netherlands before deciding to travel to the New World. Their original purpose was to establish a settlement in Northern Virginia, but due to various circumstances, they ended up sailing farther north and arriving off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
When they realized they were outside the jurisdiction of the established Virginia Colony, and lacking a specific charter for their new location, the Pilgrims recognized the need to establish their own form of government. They understood that without a set of agreed-upon rules, individual disputes and disagreements could arise once they disembarked from the Mayflower.
Therefore, on November 11, 1620, while anchored off the shore of Massachusetts, the adult male members aboard the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact, which served as a temporary agreement or social contract to establish a basic framework for self-governance. The Compact was a significant step in early American democracy as it was the first written framework of government in the New World.
Although the Mayflower Compact was not a constitution, it established a foundation for majority rule and a system of governance based on the consent of the governed. It provided the Pilgrims with the authority to create laws and make decisions for the benefit of the entire community. The Pilgrims recognized the importance of establishing a governing structure to maintain order and ensure the success of their new settlement, even though their original intentions did not involve creating a government before leaving England.