The Mayflower Compact (1620): A Precursor to American Constitutionalism

The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower before they disembarked in Plymouth, Massachusetts, stands as a foundational document in the history of American governance. This agreement, one of the earliest expressions of self-governance in the New World, played a subtle yet significant role in shaping the philosophical and practical approaches to government that would later influence the writing of the U.S. Constitution. Here’s how:

The Mayflower Compact:

  • Purpose and Context: The Compact was necessitated by the fact that the Mayflower, originally bound for the Virginia Colony, landed far north of their intended destination. This created a legal vacuum since the settlers were outside any established English jurisdiction. The Compact was thus an agreement among the passengers to establish a “civil body politic” to enact “just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices” for the general good of the colony.
  • Covenantal Theory: The document reflects covenantal or compact theory, where governance is based on a mutual agreement or covenant among the people rather than rule by divine right or absolute monarchy. This idea of government by consent would become a cornerstone of American political thought.
  • Text and Signatories: Approximately 41 of the 102 passengers signed the Compact, committing to “submit to such government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose.”

Influence on the U.S. Constitution:

  1. Consent of the Governed:
    • Philosophical Influence: The Mayflower Compact’s emphasis on government by common consent directly influenced the American belief in the consent of the governed, which is foundational to the legitimacy of government as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and implicitly in the Constitution’s preamble, “We the People.”
    • Practical Example: It provided an early practical example of how governance could be organized on the principles of agreement among settlers, setting a precedent for democratic governance.
  2. Self-Governance and Local Control:
    • Town Meetings: The Compact’s approach to self-governance influenced the development of town meetings in New England, which were direct democratic assemblies. This local governance model demonstrated how communities could manage themselves, impacting the constitutional idea of federalism where power is shared between national and local governments.
    • Federalism: Although not a direct blueprint, the Compact’s spirit of local autonomy reflects in the U.S. Constitution’s federal structure, where states retain significant governance powers.
  3. Covenant and Contractual Government:
    • Social Contract: The Compact can be seen as an early, practical application of social contract theory, where individuals agree to form a society for mutual benefit, relinquishing some individual freedoms for collective security and order. This concept was further developed by philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, directly influencing the framers.
    • Constitutional Covenants: The idea of government based on a covenant or compact was mirrored in the constitutional process where states, after the Revolution, agreed to form a “more perfect Union” through the Constitution.
  4. Moral and Religious Foundations:
    • Covenant Theology: The Puritan signatories of the Mayflower Compact viewed their agreement in a covenantal context, where their civil and religious lives were bound together. This intertwining of moral obligations with governance influenced the moral tone of American constitutionalism, where rights and responsibilities are seen as part of a shared social fabric.
  5. Legitimacy of Government:
    • Foundation of Authority: The Compact established that government authority arises from the consent of the governed, a principle that directly influenced the legitimacy of the U.S. government under the Constitution, where power is derived from the people.

Legacy and Modern Reflections:

  • Educational Impact: The Mayflower Compact is taught in American schools as a foundational document, symbolizing early democratic practice and the covenantal basis of American governance.
  • Interpretation in Constitutional Law: While not directly cited in legal arguments, the spirit of the Compact resonates in discussions about originalism, the consent of the governed, and the social contract theory underpinning American jurisprudence.
  • Symbol of American Identity: It symbolizes the beginning of self-governance in America, often cited in discussions about American exceptionalism, the role of religion in politics, and the evolution of democracy.

Conclusion:

The Mayflower Compact, though brief and simple, laid early groundwork for the principles of self-governance, consent, and covenantal agreement that would later be expanded upon in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. It stands as a testament to the American experiment in democracy, illustrating how a group of settlers could agree to govern themselves based on shared principles, a concept that would echo through centuries to shape one of the world’s most enduring constitutions.