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THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT. EQ: Why did the colonists begin to lean toward self-government?. What is self-government? Control of the government of a state, community, or other body by its own members; democratic government. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/self-government.
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EQ: Why did the colonists begin to lean toward self-government? • What is self-government? Control of the government of a state, community, or other body by its own members; democratic government. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/self-government
Backstory: Religion in Europe • In 1517 a German man named Martin Luther published a paper on Catholic Reformation. • This led to a division between Catholics and Protestants, which sparked wars all across western Europe. • In England, the Monarch was the head of the Anglican Church.
Backstory: Religion in Europe • The Pilgrims (Separatists) • The “Pilgrims” were considered Protestant, but not part of the Church of England. • They were harshly persecuted, and at one point decided to flee to the Netherlands so that they could worship freely.
The Voyage of the Mayflower • A small group of “Pilgrims” returned to England from the Netherlands. • Together with a group of non-separatists, they were able to win a charter to set up a colony in Virginia. • In September 1620, over 100 men, women and children set sail from Plymouth, England, bound for the New World.
The Voyage of the Mayflower • Unlike others before them, the “Pilgrims” were not looking for riches or glory. They simply wanted the freedom to worship in their own.
Arrival in the New World • The Mayflower landed in November 1620 in Cape Cod, a few hundred miles from Virginia. • The journey was long and hard for the settlers, and after realizing that they did not land in Virginia, they decided to stay in Cape Cod and start their own colony called Plymouth.
The Mayflower Compact • Realizing that the Virginia charter would not be applicable in Plymouth, the “Pilgrims” chose to create their own agreement to maintain law and order. • November 11, 1620 – 41 adult males (from both “Pilgrim” and “Strangers”) created and signed the Mayflower Compact.
What is the Main Point? • When the “Pilgrims” were outside of their charter jurisdiction and without a governing body, they banded together to create law and order. • They elected their own government officials that REPRESENTED the people who elected them.