Ziemeļamerikā ietilpstošā Mayflower Compact [1620]

Kompānija Mayflower Compact, dokuments parakstīts uz angļu kuģa Mayflower 1620. gada 21. novembrī [11. novembrī, Old Style] pirms tā izkraušanas Plimutā, Masačūsetsā. Tas bija pirmais valdības ietvars, kas tika uzrakstīts un ieviests teritorijā, kas tagad ir Amerikas Savienotās Valstis.

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Nelīdzenās jūras un vētras neļāva Mayflower sasniegt paredzēto galamērķi Hadsona upes apgabalā, un kuģis tā vietā tika virzīts uz Mencas Kapu. Kursa maiņas dēļ pasažieri vairs nebija to hartu jurisdikcijā, ko viņiem Anglijā piešķīrusi Virdžīnijas kompānija. Šajā juridiski neskaidrajā situācijā starp angļu separātistiem (svētceļniekiem) un pārējiem ceļotājiem radās berze, daži no viņiem draudēja pamest grupu un apmesties paši.

Lai mīkstinātu konfliktu un saglabātu vienotību, svētceļojumu vadītāji (starp tiem Viljams Bredfords un Viljams Brewsters) pirms došanās krastā izstrādāja Mayflower Compact projektu. Īsais dokuments (apmēram 200 vārdi) saistīja tā parakstītājus ar politisko struktūru valdības veidošanas nolūkā un apņēmās ievērot likumus un noteikumus, kas vēlāk tiks pieņemti “kolonijas vispārējiem labumiem”. Kompaktu parakstīja gandrīz visi Mayflower pieaugušie vīriešu kārtas pasažieri (41 no 102 pasažieriem), kamēr kuģis bija noenkurojies Provincetown ostā. Tās pilnvaras tika nekavējoties izmantotas, kad par jaunās kolonijas gubernatoru tika izvēlēts Džons Karvers, kurš bija palīdzējis organizēt ekspedīciju.

The Mayflower Compact was not a constitution but rather an adaptation of a Puritan church covenant to a civil situation. Furthermore, as a provisional instrument adopted solely by the colonists, the document did not solve the matter of their questionable legal rights to the land they settled. (A patent was eventually obtained from the Council for New England in June 1621.) Still, the Mayflower Compact became the foundation of Plymouth’s government and remained in force until the colony was absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. Although in practice much of the power in Plymouth was guarded by the Pilgrim founders, the compact, with its fundamental principles of self-government and common consent, has been interpreted as an important step in the evolution of democratic government in America.

As the original version of the Mayflower Compact was lost, the oldest known source in which the text of the document (provided below) can be found is Mourt’s Relation (1622), an account of Plymouth’s settlement written by Edward Winslow and William Bradford.

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 Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor 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 politic, 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, 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 hereunder subscribed our names; Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord King James, of England, France and Ireland eighteenth and of Scotland fifty-fourth, Anno Domini 1620.