Mayflower Compact Analysis

Words: 491
Pages: 2

During the various stages of the United States of America, different documents controlled the government, citizens, and laws. Through each of the constitutions, the wants and needs of each colony and the colonists come through. Evolution is one thing that connects all of the documents.
The Mayflower Compact was written and signed by the English colonists on the Mayflower. This document was the first written structure for, what we would become, the United States of America. On November 16, 1620, the compact was signed that prevented Puritans from dissenting and “enacted ‘just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices” (History.com Staff). Any male going ashore had to sign the agreement before leaving. There was trouble enforcing the compact, as some pilgrims didn’t believe that they should have to follow the laws. Until 1686, when Plymouth was incorporated into the Dominion of New England, the Mayflower Compact was used as the ‘constitution.’ Articles of Confederation was the ‘first’ written constitution for the states. Under the Articles, Congress was given the right to make alliances, treaties and money, but states still remained sovereign and independent. Ratifications were then made to change
…show more content…
Constitution. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 at the Constitutional Convention. At this conference the delegates planned for a strong federal government with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. In the Constitution, a system of checks and balances is placed so that no branch gets to powerful. In 1791, the Constitution was amended to include the Bill of Rights, which guarantees basic individual protections. The delegates were all different ages, had various jobs, and most were Protestant. Reporters were banned from the conference, so that the delegates didn’t have any outside influences. On May 29, 1790, the Constitution was finally