High winds and treacherous tides along North America’s coast prevented the Pilgrims from sailing south to join Virginia’s settlement at Jamestown, founded 14 years earlier. Having to disembark in Massachusetts, there was no government to submit to, so the Pilgrims created their own – the Mayflower Compact. It was the first “constitution” written in America.
The Mayflower Compact began: “In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James … having undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia … in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick … to enacte … just & equall lawes … as shall be thought most meete & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”
The Mayflower Compact ended: “In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye 11 of November, Ano:Dom. 1620.”
There were three types of colonies: