Explain why the pilgrims goverment came about and why its existence was important

Answer 1

The existence of the Pilgrims government, known as the Mayflower Compact, came about due to various reasons and its importance cannot be understated.

1. Religious freedom: The Pilgrims were a group of English Separatists who fled England in search of religious freedom. They had previously faced persecution and sought a place where they could practice their faith freely without interference. The Mayflower Compact was formed to establish a government that would enable them to govern themselves and protect their religious and civil liberties.

2. Lack of legal authority: The Pilgrims intended to settle in the northern part of the Virginia Colony, but due to storms and navigational challenges, they ended up landing in what is now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. This meant that they were outside the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company, who had granted them permission to settle. In order to establish a legal and governing authority, the Pilgrims created the Mayflower Compact to ensure order and structure.

3. Civil unity: The Mayflower Compact was crucial in creating a sense of unity and cooperation among the Pilgrims. They recognized the need for a formal agreement that would bind them together as a community, especially since they were venturing into an unknown and often hostile territory. By pledging to create a government based on consent and the common good, they established the well-being of the community as a priority.

4. Democratic principles: The Mayflower Compact was a significant development in the history of democracy. It was the first written framework for self-government in the American colonies and one of the first examples of social contract theory in practice. It outlined the principles of majority rule and consent of the governed, providing a basis for future democratic institutions in the United States.

5. Influential precedent: The Mayflower Compact set an influential precedent for future generations. It demonstrated that a group of individuals could come together, create a government, and live harmoniously under the rule of law. Its existence and the success of the Plymouth Colony inspired other early settlers to establish self-governing communities as they migrated to different parts of America, shaping the future of governance in the New World.

Overall, the creation and existence of the Pilgrims government, embodied in the Mayflower Compact, played a crucial role in establishing a framework for religious freedom, legal authority, civil unity, democratic principles, and served as an influential precedent for future self-governing communities in the United States.