Teaching Topics in Social Studies
William Bradford and his fellow travelers from England sought RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

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as they set out to COLONIZE the NEW WORLD. They were IMMIGRANTS who encountered a NATIVE PEOPLE AND CULTURE in Plymouth, Massachusetts and the surrounding area. Their daily life and practices were influenced by their RELIGIOUS FAITH. The Mayflower Compact could be likened to a SOCIAL CONTRACT that hinted at forms of a DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT and shows influences from ENGLISH COMMON LAW and THE MAGNA CARTA. They established an AGRARIAN ECONOMY to provide for themselves and pay their debt to those who paid for their voyage.
 
Teaching Topics in Language Arts
The Mayflower Compact, considered primarily a LEGAL DOCUMENT, was transcribed by William Bradford in his PERSONAL NARRATIVE,

Scavenger Hunt By what name did William Bradford refer to the Mayflower Compact? . . . answer . . .

Of Plymouth Plantation. The original document no longer exists (such was the nature of EARLY PUBLISHING), so historians rely on William Bradford's transcription as the most authentic. It is written in a form of OLD ENGLISH, with non-standard spellings and stylized sentence structures and vocabulary. LITERACY levels were likely high among the pilgrims because of the central role the Bible played in their life; much of their writing contained BIBLICAL allusions, themes and styles.

Facts About the Mayflower Compact The original does not exist It was most likely handwritten by John Carver It was signed by the forty-one men aboard the Mayflower It was signed on November 11, 1620 Nine of the signers were named John The most accurate version of the Compact is likely the one included in William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation"