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The Mayflower Compact: A Promise on a Ship!

Imagine writing a rulebook on a bumpy boat ride! That's what the Mayflower passengers did to start a new home.

Images

Ken, Statue to WIlliam Bradford, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Ken, Statue to WIlliam Bradford, Plymouth, Massachusetts

openverse
Seattle - Plymouth Congregational - Mayflower Compact stained glass 01
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File:Seattle - Plymouth Congregational - Mayflower Compact stained glass 01 (26938909416).jpg
The Mayflower at sea, pilgrims signing the compact on board the Mayflower, Nov. 11th, 1620. Provincetown Harbor, Mass.
Provincetown - PM Mural 1
Provincetown - Lost Pilgrims F
Settling on the Coast
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Signing of the Compact in the Cabin of the Mayflower
Pilgrims signing the compact on board the Mayflower, Nov 11, 1620, Provincetown Harbor, Mass.
Mayflower Compact Monument

Key Facts

Document Type
First governing document for Plymouth Colony.
Date Signed
November 21, 1620 (New Style).
Location of Signing
Aboard the Mayflower ship in Provincetown Harbor.
Number of Signers
41 of the 101 passengers.

A Big Adventure on the Mayflower!

A long, long time ago, about 102 people sailed across a giant ocean on a ship called the Mayflower. It was a very long trip, and they were looking for a new place to live. When they got close to land, they knew they needed to make some rules so everyone could get along. So, the grown-ups on the ship wrote down a special agreement.

Making Rules for a New Town

This special agreement was called the Mayflower Compact. It was like a promise to be fair and make good laws for their new home, which they called Plymouth Colony. It wasn't a king or queen telling them what to do, but they all agreed together. Forty-one brave people signed this promise right there on the ship!

Why Was This Promise So Important?

This promise was super important because it was one of the first times people in America decided to make their own rules. It showed that they wanted to work together and build a community where everyone had a say. It was like the very first step in creating a government where people could choose their leaders.

A Promise That Lasted!

The Mayflower Compact helped the people of Plymouth Colony start their new lives. Even though it was written a long, long time ago, it's still remembered today. It reminds us that when people work together and agree on rules, they can build amazing things and create a fair place for everyone.

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