The Mayflower Compact: The Foundational Document of America- video

In 1620, the men aboard the Mayflower—the ship that brought Separatist Puritans, adventurers, and tradesmen from the Old World to what would become the Plymouth Colony on the North American shore—wrote a document titled “Agreement Between the Settlers of New Plymouth.” The legal document that bound the Pilgrims together when they arrived in New England became known as the Mayflower Compact in 1793.

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc. having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of the Colonie unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Codd the 11. of November, in the year of the raigne of our sovereigne lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

Signed by these 41 men.

1. John Carver
2. William Bradford
3. Edward Winslow
4. William Brewster
5. Issac Allerton
6. Myles Standish
7. John Alden
8. Samuel Fuller
9. Christopher Martin
10. William Mullins
11. William White
12. Richard Warren
13. John Howland
14. Stephen Hopkins
15. Edward Tilley
16. John Tilley
17. Francis Cooke
18. Thomas Rogers
19. Thomas Tinker
20. John Rigdale
21. Edward Fuller
22. John Turner
23. Francis Eaton
24. James Chilton
25. John Crackston
26. John Billington
27. Moses Fletcher
28. John Goodman
29. Degory Priest
30. Thomas Williams
31. Gilbert Winslow
32. Edmund Margeson
33. Peter Browne
34. Richard Britteridge
35. George Soule
36. Richard Clarke
37. Richard Gardiner
38. John Allerton
39. Thomas English
40. Edward Dotey
41. Edward Leister