What is The Mayflower Compact?
(1 point)
Responses
a long-term treaty for trade routes with the Dutch Tea Company
a long-term treaty for trade routes with the Dutch Tea Company
a formal method to establish systematic order among the Pilgrims
a formal method to establish systematic order among the Pilgrims
an economic agreement to freely make and sell goods to the British
an economic agreement to freely make and sell goods to the British
a formal agreement by the Pilgrims to abide by "just and equal laws" drafted by leaders of their own choosing
The Mayflower Compact was a formal agreement by the Pilgrims to abide by "just and equal laws" drafted by leaders of their own choosing.
The Mayflower Compact was a formal agreement by the Pilgrims to abide by "just and equal laws" drafted by leaders of their own choosing.
To understand what the Mayflower Compact is, it is important to know the historical context. In September 1620, a group of English Pilgrims set sail on a ship called the Mayflower to establish a new colony in North America. They were seeking religious freedom and the opportunity to create a community based on their own beliefs.
During their journey, they encountered storms and navigational challenges, which caused them to land in Plymouth, Massachusetts, instead of their intended destination in Virginia. With no legal authority in Plymouth, some of the passengers expressed concerns about potential dissent and lawlessness among the group.
To address this, the Pilgrims drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620. The compact was a social contract that established a form of self-government and laid out a plan for establishing laws and order in the new settlement.
The Mayflower Compact's key purpose was to provide a framework for governance and to ensure unity and stability among the settlers. It acknowledged the authority of the King of England, but also stated that the colonists would make their own laws and create a system of self-governance. All signatories agreed to be bound by those laws for the sake of the general good of the colony.
The Mayflower Compact is significant because it established a precedent for self-government and the idea of consent among the governed. It is considered one of the earliest documents in American history that foreshadowed the principles of democracy that later influenced the formation of the United States.
So, the correct answer is:
a formal agreement by the Pilgrims to abide by "just and equal laws" drafted by leaders of their own choosing.