The Puritan Connection

1. The Puritan Connection Mayflower Compact Rules to Live By

2. Puritan People Believed the Bible was God’s one true law. Believed that The Church of England had become a product of politics and man-made doctrine. Attempt to “purify” religion. As well as their own lives.

3. The Mayflower Compact • The Mayflower compact was signed November 11, 1620 on board the Mayflower anchored in Providence Harbor. • It is suggested in writings from William Bradford that part of the reason for establishing the compact came as a response to “the discontented and mutinous speeches” from some of the “strangers”-colonists who had traveled with them but were not committed to the new way of life.

4. Plymouth • The Pilgrims had settled in Northern Virginia which was ruled by England. • Puritans settled in Plymouth since there was no government in place. • The Mayflower Compact was established as a form of government, creating rules and laws to live by in the new land. Everyone had to be willing to abide by these laws. This is much like our laws today. • The Mayflower Compact was the foundation for the United States Constitution.

5. Everything comes from God. Covenant and promise . Each person was responsible to God. Mayflower Compact begins with a prayer. God would lead to a reward.

6. Responsibilities and Accountability • There had to be accountability for all behavior and actions. • The new world required strict obedience to Biblical principals.. • Strength was found in the community. Spiritual bond bought them together. • Everything that a person had came from God. • Deviation from the Puritan way of life met with strict punishment and disapproval. Any church infraction was also a social one.

7. Education • Puritans believed that the Bible was Gods true law. • Drama, religious music and erotic poetry were banned in the Puritan colonies. • The Bible and Greek classic writings such as , Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid were taught. • The first free schooling was offered for all children. First formal school in 1635 called the Roxbury Latin School. • Sunday provided a form of entertainment when going to church and a rest of their labors.

8. Mayflower Compact In y name of God Amen. We whose names are vnderwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soueaigne Lord King James by y grace of God, of great Britaine, franc, & Ireland king, defender of y faith, & c Haueingvndetaken, for y glorie of God, and aduancemente of y christian and honourof our king & countrie, a voyage to plant y first colonie in y Northerne parts of Virginia doe by these presents and solemnly & mutualy in y presence of God, and one of another, couentant & combine our seluestogeather into a ciuill body politick; for our better ordering, & preseruation & fur= therance of y ends aforesaid; and by vertuehearof, to enacte, constitute, and frame shuch just & equalllawes, ordinances, Acts, constitutions & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete & conuenient for y generall good of y colonie:

9. Continued Vnto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness wherof we haueherevnder subscribed our names at Cap= Codd y 11 of Nouember, in year of y raigne of our soueraigne Lord king James of England, franc & Ireland y eighteenth and of Scotland y fiftie fourth. An : Dom 1620

10. The Mayflower Compact was first published in 1622. • William Bradford wrote a copy of the Mayflower Compact down in his History Of Plymouth Plantation. • The original Mayflower Compact has never been found, and is assumed destroyed.