Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact was the first document establishing a government in America, signed on November 21, 1620 to govern the Plymouth Colony (near Cape Cod today). It was most likely composed by William Brewster who had a university education and was written while the Mayflower was still at anchor in the Cape Cod Harbor.

The Pilgrims had sailed off course arriving much further north in uncharted territory and some passengers argued that since they were outside jurisdiction of the Virginia Company its rules and regulation no longer applied and they threatenen to do as they pleased for no one had power to command them.

They agreed to the first social contract in America, with the settlers consenting to abide by the rules of this Mayflower Compact. The Compact derived its power from the consent of the governed. This contract proclaimed the allegiance of settlers to the king while establishing a majoritarian form of government.