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The Mayflower Compact

Lesson 1:

From Unit Philanthropic Movements in the United States to 1900

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

6th-8th Grade

Subjects:

Language Arts, Library / Technology and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

ELA:	Cultural/Historical Contexts; Journaling; Non-Fiction Literature; Summarizing/Paraphrasing; Vocabulary
PHIL:	11 genOn; Common Good; Community; Thanksgiving
SOC:	Pastor John Robinson’s Farewell Letter to the Pilgrims; 10 genOn; Colonization/Settlement (1585-1763); Common Good; Mayflower Compact; Primary/Secondary Sources

Overview:

The purpose of this lesson is to illustrate how the Pilgrims were influenced in developing a community and American democracy. Using primary source documents, this lesson will take a look at the Mayflower Compact and its origins, and will discuss the story of The Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving.

Purpose:

Duration:

One Fifty-Minute Class Period

Objectives:

The learner will:

use primary source documents to explain how the Mayflower Compact became the first written framework of government established in the United States.

define the terms body politic, equal laws, ordinances, covenant and Constitution.

describe how the story of the Pilgrims is a story of community and the common good.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.
Learn more about the stages of service-learning.

Materials:

A Thanksgiving story to read to the class (see Bibliographical References)
The Mayflower Compact (Attachment One), learner copies
Pastor John Robinson’s Farewell Letter to the Pilgrims (Attachment Two), learner copies
Journals

Handout 1: The Mayflower Compact
Handout 2: Pastor John Robinson’s Farewell Letter to the Pilgrims

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:

Ask the learners to think back to the Pilgrims who came to the New World on the Mayflower. Conduct a quick brainstorming session in which the learners list reasons why the Pilgrims are remembered in American history.

Read a story of Thanksgiving to the class (see Bibliographical References).
Distribute The Mayflower Compact (Attachment One). Explain that because the Mayflower anchored in Plymouth harbor, the patent from the London Company was invalid in New England. As a result the Pilgrims drew up an agreement called the Mayflower Compact, which pledged allegiance to the English king but established a form of government by the will of the majority. Patents were obtained from the Council for New England in 1621 and in 1630, but the Mayflower Compact remained the basis of the colony’s government until union with Massachusetts Bay colony in 1691. Read The Mayflower Compact out loud.
Distribute Pastor John Robinson’s Farewell Letter to the Pilgrims (Attachment Two). Divide the learners into four groups. Assign one of the passages to each group to read and have them write what Pastor Robinson was trying to say to the Pilgrims in the passage. When all groups have finished, read each section out loud and let each group explain how Pastor Robinson’s words were used in writing the Compact. Have the learners define covenant, body politic, equal laws, ordinances and Constitution in their own words.
Discuss the role of the Native Americans in helping the Pilgrims. Discuss how the Native Americans and Pilgrims worked together for the common good of the community.
As a summary of the lesson, ask the learners to write about the following topic in their journals: The story of the Pilgrims is an example of community and the common good.

Assessment:

The journal entry and group work may be used as an assessment of learning.

School/Home Connection:

Cross-Curriculum Extensions:

Follow the journey of the Mayflower with an interactive map and ship's log at the Plimouth Plantation home page http://www.plimoth.org/features/mayflower-2/journey/journey.php. Skip the introduction and click on different points on the ship's journey to read details and related information.

Bibliographical References:

http://www.mayflowerhistory.com This Web site contains a Thanksgiving information page, a Girls on the Mayflower page, Common Myths , Religious Beliefs of the Pilgrims and Frequently Asked Questions from Students pages.
McGovern, Ann. The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving . New York: Scholastic; Reissue edition (October 1993). ISBN: 0590461885
www.historychannel.com Click on the following titles: Mayflower Compact, Plymouth Colony, Thanksgiving
Journey of the Mayflower. Plimouth Plantation http://www.plimoth.org/features/mayflower-2/journey/journey.php

Lesson Developed By:

Steve Hicks
Eaton Intermediate School District
Charlotte, MI 48813

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

The Mayflower Compact

“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&.

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; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland,

the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620.”

There followed the signatures of 41 of the 102 passengers, 37 of whom were members of the “Separatists” who were fleeing religious persecution in Europe. This compact established the first basis in the new world for written laws. Half the colony failed to survive the first winter, but the remainder lived on and prospered.

Handout 2Print Handout 2

Pastor John Robinson’s Farewell Letter to the Pilgrims

This letter was read to everyone before they set sail from England to America.

Loving and Christian Friends,
I do heartily and in the Lord salute you all as being they with whom I am present in my best affection, and most earnest longings after you. Though I be constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you...

Passage One:

...we are carefully to provide for peace with all men what in us lieth, especially with our associates. And for that, watchfulness must be had that we neither at all in ourselves do give, no, nor easily take offense being given by others. Woe be unto the world for offenses, for though it be necessary...that offenses come, yet woe unto the man, or woman either, by whom the offense cometh...Neither yet is it sufficient that we keep ourselves by the grace of God from giving offense, except withal we be armed against the taking of them when they be given by others...

Pastor Robinson is saying:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Passage Two:

...you are many of you strangers, as to the persons so to the infirmities one of another, and so stand in need of more watchfulness this way, lest when such things fall out in men and women as you suspected not, you be inordinately affected with them; which doth require at your hands much wisdom and charity for the covering and preventing of incident offenses that way...your intended course of civil community will minister continual occasion of offense, and will be as fuel for that fire, except you diligently quench it with brotherly forbearance...

Pastor Robinson is saying:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Passage Three:

A...thing there is carefully to be provided for... [that] you join common affections truly bent upon the general good...And as men are careful not to have a new house shaken with any violence before it be well settled and the parts firmly knit, so be you, I beseech you, brethren, much more careful that the house of God, which you are and are to be, be not shaken with unnecessary novelties or other oppositions at the first settling thereof.

Pastor Robinson is saying:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Passage Four:

...whereas you are become a body politic, using amongst yourselves civil government, and are not furnished with any persons of special eminency above the rest, to be chosen by you into office of government; let your wisdom and godliness appear, not only in choosing such persons as do entirely love and will promote the common good, but also in yielding unto them all due honor and obedience in their lawful administrations, not beholding in them the ordinariness of their persons, but God’s ordinance for your good; not being like the foolish multitude who more honor the gay coat than either the virtuous mind of the man, or glorious ordinance of the Lord. But you know better things, and that the image of the Lord’s power and authority which the magistrate beareth, is honorable, in how means persons soever. And this duty you both may the more willingly and ought the more conscionably to perform, because you are at least for the present to have only them for your ordinary governors, which yourselves shall make choice of for that work...

Pastor Robinson is saying:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/PrimarySources/primarysources.php