"The Mayflower Compact"

Question

Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid;

The Mayflower Compact

"The Declaration of Independence"
by Thomas Jefferson

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends

Answer 1

The Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence are two foundational documents in American history that illustrate different aspects of governance and the philosophy of rights and community.

The Mayflower Compact

• Context: Drafted in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, the Compact was created as a social contract to establish order and governance for the new colony.
• Purpose: The Compact emphasizes the collective responsibility of the settlers to work together for the glory of God, the advancement of the Christian faith, and the honor of their king and country. It reflects the desire for self-governance and mutual cooperation in the face of uncertain conditions.
• Key Themes:
  • Covenant and Cooperation: The commitment to form a civil body politic highlights the importance of unity and shared purpose.
  • Divine Justification: The invocation of God suggests that their actions are sanctified and have a moral dimension.
  • Regulatory Framework: It provides a framework for order and preservation in the fledgling colony, prior to any formal government being established.

The Declaration of Independence

• Context: Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, this document declared the American colonies' separation from British rule.
• Purpose: The Declaration articulates fundamental principles regarding human rights and government legitimacy, emphasizing the importance of liberty and the equality of all individuals.
• Key Themes:
  • Unalienable Rights: The phrase indicates that certain rights are inherent and cannot be taken away—these include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  • Consent of the Governed: The document asserts that governments derive their power from the consent of the people, establishing the foundation for democratic governance.
  • Right to Revolution: It infers that if a government becomes destructive to these ends, the people have the right to alter or abolish it.

Comparison

• Foundational Ideals: Both documents reflect core American ideals—community, governance, and rights—but they do so in different contexts. The Mayflower Compact is more about establishing community and order among settlers, whereas the Declaration of Independence is a bold assertion of individual rights and a critique of tyranny.
• Religious and Philosophical Influences: The Mayflower Compact is rooted in a religious context, seeing governance as a divine matter. In contrast, the Declaration is influenced by Enlightenment philosophy, emphasizing reason and the social contract as the basis for legitimate government.
• Governance Evolution: The Compact represents an early form of self-governance, establishing a community framework, while the Declaration denotes a significant evolution toward a recognition of individual rights and the framework of a nation-state.

Together, both documents underscore the trajectory of American political thought, from establishing a community under shared religious and ethical beliefs to advocating for individual rights and democratic principles.