The Mayflower Compact: the Pilgrims would not survive in the New World unless they learned how to get along with each other.In the early 1600s, many people in England had to practice their religion in secret. Anyone who openly disagreed with the teachings of the Church of England Church of England: see England, Church of. risked imprisonment--or even death. A small group of Separatists, who became known as Pilgrims, journeyed to the New World in search of religious freedom. Upon arrival, they drew up a plan for self-government called the Mayflower Compact Mayflower Compact, in U.S. colonial history, an agreement providing for the temporary government of Plymouth Colony. The compact was signed (1620) on board the Mayflower . This agreement, the first of its kind in the future United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , helped the Pilgrims establish order in their new community, which they called Plymouth Colony Plymouth Colony, settlement made by the Pilgrims on the coast of Massachusetts in 1620. Founding Previous attempts at colonization in America (1606, 1607–8) by the Plymouth Company, chartered in 1606 along with the London Company (see . As part of our We the People series, JS examines this turning point in American history. Cast of Characters William Brewster William Brewster may refer to:
Mary Brewster Mary Brewster (c. 1568 - April 17, 1627) was a pilgrim and one of the women on the Mayflower. She was the wife of Elder William Brewster and the mother of six of his children (one of whom died in infancy and one, Wrestling Brewster, never married). , his wife Patience Brewster, 12, their daughter Jonathan Brewster Elder Jonathan Brewster (August 12, 1593 - August 7, 1659) was an early American settler, he was the son and eldest child of elder William Brewster and Mary Wentworth. He had two younger sisters Patience and Fear. And two younger brothers Love and Wrestling. , 14, their son Ship captain William Bradford, a Separatist leader Thomas Weston Thomas Weston is a name shared by a number of notable individuals
Separatist men Francis Billington, a teen Stranger Desire Minter, a teen Separatist Stranger John Carver
John Carver (1576–1621), Pilgrim leader and the first governor of Plymouth Colony, born probably in Nottinghamshire, England. , a Separatist leader Squanto, a Patuxet (pah-TUCK-et) Indian Narrators A-E A-E, AE above-elbow; see under amputation. Scene 1 Narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. A: It is a moonless night in the fall of 1608, on a lonely English shoreline on the North Sea. Dozens of Separatist families stand on the dock. William Brewster: Jonathan, put these tools in my bag. Mary Brewster: Be careful, Jon. They're heavy. Narrator A: The Brewsters and other families are waiting for a ship that will take them to Amsterdam, the largest city in Holland. Patience Brewster: It's so dark, Father. I'm scared. Brewster: The ship will be here soon. Narrator A: A thick fog covers the sea. Jonathan Brewster: I think I see a light. Patience: At last, the ship is here! Jonathan: Quiet, Patience. If the King hears us, we'll all be hanged. Patience: Is that true, Mother? Mary: Jonathan has a big imagination. But we must be careful. If any of the men are caught, King James will have them imprisoned im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- . Ship captain: Come aboard, everyone! Narrator A: English soldiers approach on horseback on the back of a horse; mounted or riding on a horse or horses; in the saddle. See also: Horseback . The King has sent them to stop the Separatists from escaping. Brewster: Jonathan, hand me my musket musket: see small arms. musket Muzzle-loading shoulder firearm developed in 16th-century Spain. Designed as a larger version of the harquebus, muskets were fired with matchlocks until flintlocks were developed in the 17th century; flintlocks were [gun]! Narrator A: Mrs. Brewster turns to her husband. Mary: The soldiers have found us! We Saints will all be killed! Narrator A: The Separatists call themselves Saints. In their eyes, they are God's chosen people. Brewster: Be strong, Mary. The ship is here. Ship captain: Lift the anchor, men! We're off. Narrator A: Wind fills the sails, and the ship leaves the dock. The Brewsters are safely on board. Patience: Now the King's men The King's Men may refer to:
Brewster: Soon we will be free to practice our own religion, as pure and simple as we like. All men are free in Holland. Narrator A: A cold wind blows A Cold Wind Blows is a noncompetitive substitute for the game of musical chairs. It was developed in the 1970s as part of the New Games movement, developed by Andrew Fluegelman and colleagues. across the deck, and rain begins to fall. Scene 2 Narrator B: After a stormy voyage, the ship arrives in Amsterdam. Patience: The canals are so pretty here, and I love the clatter clat·ter v. clat·tered, clat·ter·ing, clat·ters v.intr. 1. To make a rattling sound. 2. To move with a rattling sound: clattering along on roller skates. of wooden shoes! Narrator B: But because of a conflict with other English settlers, the Separatists decide to move to Leyden [LY-dun], a small town in Holland. Jonathan: Look at all of these windmills! Brewster: The most important thing is that we can worship God in peace. Patience: Yes, Father, and I've made new Dutch friends. Jonathan: We can even speak Dutch! Goede morgen. Patience: That means, "Good morning." Narrator B: Mr. and Mrs. Brewster look at each other. Later, they talk quietly. Mary: If we stay in Holland, our children will forget the English language English language, member of the West Germanic group of the Germanic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages (see Germanic languages). Spoken by about 470 million people throughout the world, English is the official language of about 45 nations. and all of our customs. Brewster: Yes, and it is difficult to make a living here. Narrator B: Most of the Separatists grew up on farms. In Leyden, they must work in the cloth mills. Mary: Even the children have to work. They will be old and bent before their time. Narrator B: A dozen years pass. The Separatist group now numbers almost 600. Brewster: William Bradford is on his way over. Narrator B: Bradford, a young man, has become a leader of the group. Mary: I hear him at the door. Brewster: Welcome, Mr. Bradford. William Bradford: Good evening, sir. We have important business to discuss. As you know, life here is difficult. Some of us think it is best to leave Leyden. Mary: Where can we go? Bradford: Let us try our luck in the New World. Narrator B: The Separatists negotiate with businessmen in London for financial support for their journey. Patience and Jonathan, now grown up, decide to stay in Holland. Scene 3 Narrator C: The Separatists need a large ship and enough supplies to make the long voyage. Thomas Weston: I'll give you a ship and supplies--under one condition: For the first seven years, you must send me everything you earn. Bradford: Seven years! We'll have nothing to show for our work. Separatist men: Forget it. We're staying here. Narrator C: Most Separatists decide not to make the journey. Weston: Why should I finance your trip if so few of you are going? I'll find others to accompany you. Bradford: We Saints can't travel with strangers. What if they're bad people? Weston: You heard my condition. Either you travel with the others or you stay here. Narrator C: Like the Saints, most of the people they call "Strangers" are seeking a better life in the New World. Scene 4 Narrator D: After many delays, the Pilgrims depart on their ship, the Mayflower Mayflower, ship Mayflower, ship that in 1620 brought the Pilgrims from England to New England. She set out from Southampton in company with the Speedwell, , from Plymouth, England, in September 1620. The group plans to settle in English territory controlled by the Virginia Company Virginia Company, name of two English colonizing companies, chartered by King James I in 1606. By the terms of the charter, the Virginia Company of London (see London Company) was given permission to plant a colony 100 mi (160 km) square between lat. 34°N and lat. . Bradford: God bless this journey. Narrator D: Only 37 Saints from the Leyden community are aboard. Of the more than 100 passengers, about 30 are children. Below deck ... Francis Billington: It stinks in here! Desire Minter: stink, Francis! Narrator D: Mice scurry at their feet. Francis: I'm gonna puke Puke Slang for selling off a losing position even if the loss is substantial. Notes: The point at which an investor decides to sell regardless of price has been dubbed "the puke point. . Desire: Don't puke on me! Narrator D: Storms rock the Mayflower, and many passengers get seasick. Francis: This lousy biscuit chipped my tooth! It's as hard as a rock. Desire: Stop your complaining. My biscuit was filled with bugs. Narrator D: The Strangers and the Saints try to get along, but tensions run high during the 65-day voyage. Stranger: We're almost there. Soon we can abandon these so-called Saints. Bradford: Watch what you say. We must work together in the New World. Narrator D: During the journey, the Mayflower is blown off course. In November, the weary passengers find themselves off the coast of Cape Cod. Bradford: Winter is approaching, and we're almost out of food. Why don't we stay here? Brewster: All right, but we had better establish some laws. Don't forget, we're on our own. Who knows how much we can trust these Strangers? Narrator D: The leaders of both groups come to an agreement. John Carver (reading): "In the presence of God, and one another, we combine ourselves together into a civil body politic BODY POLITIC, government, corporations. When applied to the government this phrase signifies the state. 2. As to the persons who compose the body politic, they take collectively the name, of people, or nation; and individually they are citizens, when considered [organized group], for our better ordering and preservation." Narrator D: Forty-one men sign the Mayflower Compact. They elect Carver as their first Governor. Bradford: We are all in this together. Scene 5 Narrator E: In December, the Pilgrims find a hilly stretch on the mainland, near present-day Boston, where they build Plymouth Colony. Desire: Winters here are miserable! Francis: I'll say. I miss London. Narrator E: For weeks, there is nothing but rain, sleet sleet, precipitation of small, partially melted grains of ice. As raindrops fall from clouds, they pass through layers of air at different temperatures. If they pass through a layer with a temperature below the freezing point, they turn into sleet. , or snow. Bradford: At least we've built a meeting room and a few small houses. Narrator E: The men work quickly. Some of the children help. Francis: Carrying all those logs has made me tired and thirsty. Desire: Too bad the well water froze. Narrator E: During the first winter, more than half of the Pilgrims die, many from starvation. Brewster: If we don't get help soon, we will lose all of our people. Bradford: We must continue to pray. Narrator E: In March, an Indian named Samoset arrives at the colony. Francis: Imagine, a real, live Indian! Desire: The men were afraid Indians would attack us. But he's friendly. Narrator E: Samoset doesn't speak much English. He promises to send his friend, Squanto, to help the Pilgrims. Bradford: At last, Squanto is here! Squanto: Greetings. I have known other Englishmen before you. They taught me your language. Bradford: We are glad to see you. Our people are suffering greatly. Narrator E: Squanto shows the Pilgrims how to plant corn in a new way. In each row, he buries small fish. Desire: Will the corn smell bad? Squanto: Not at all. The fish will help the corn grow. It's a fertilizer. Narrator E: Thanks to Squanto, many crops grow---corn, beans, and squash. He also builds a bear trap Bear Trap A false signal that the rising trend of a stock or index has reversed when it has not. Notes: This can occur during a bear market reversal when short sellers believe the markets will sink back to its declining ways. . Bradford: We owe you a huge debt. Bring your people here for a feast. Narrator E: The Pilgrims and the Indians play games together at their harvest celebration. They eat corn, deer, fish, and goose. Squanto: First, the white men must talk to the Great Spirit. Then we can eat. write it! Imagine that you are a passenger on the Mayflower. Write a letter to a cousin back home describing your journey. Words to Know compact: a formal agreement or promise. Separatists: English Protestants who wished to form their own church a part from the Church of England. Freedom for All? The Mayflower Compact is still celebrated as an important milestone on America's road to democracy. Yet it did not guarantee rights for everyone. Women, servants, and children in the Plymouth Colony had no legal protections. Groups who later came to the area in search of religious freedom, including the Quakers, were often persecuted (treated cruelly) or driven away. And the Indians eventually lost most of their land to white settlers. Today, the U. S. Constitution and its amendments grant rights and privileges to all citizens, regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnic background. This year, schools will celebrate Constitution Day on September 16. For more information, go to constitutionday.com. |
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