Research Paper On The Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Ordinances of Virginia, and the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania all have similarities with each other. It is clear to see from these documents that the early colonists strived to create a government in which order is needed and religious freedom is evident. However, similar as these documents may be, they each have their own goals.

The Mayflower Compact is the first of these documents to be written. It was signed by 41 men abroad the Mayflower on November 11, 1620. The underlying principle of the Mayflower Compact was that it was written in order to create structure and harmony to the new settlement. Due to the fact that the men aboard were escaping religious persecution, religious freedom was the

goal of the Mayflower Compact. These men also valued covenant and community amongst one another.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the second document out of these four to be signed.

The writer's desired for Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor to have a government similar to the Massachusetts colonies. Also, it is clear from the wording that the authors valued a government that lined up with teachings in the Bible as well as the Congregationalist Church. For example, the first sentence includes the reasoning behind this document. It says, "...where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent government established according to God." Thus, it is obvious that the authors respected God and had a goal to organize a Christian government.

The third document, written in 1618 and re-issued in 1621, is the Ordinances for Virginia. This document was written in order to create "supreme councils" for the state of Virginia to become stronger, more stable, and more prosperous. The underlying principle of this document was to direct the leaders to first serve God and then serve the people. It is understood from reading and studying this document that the authors agreed to form a government that feared

God.
The last document is the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania. This document is especially faith-based. In the preface, the authors tell of how God made man to rule the world. They even say why a government is needed in the third paragraph of the preface: "This settles the divine right of government beyond exception, and that for two ends: first, to terrify evil doers: secondly, to cherish those that do well; which gives government a life beyond corruption, and makes it as durable in the world, as good men shall be." The purpose of this document was to constitute a parliament that was made up of two houses.
The statement that "our nation's founders had no intention of establishing America as a Christian nation" is only made by those who have not studied the true writings of the founders. It is obvious that the nation's founders were creating a government that was based off of religious freedom. Each document uniquely clarifies the fact that the authors wanted to serve God and live under a government that followed Scripture. I believe that the nation's founders' intentions were to form a government and people that served God instead of glorifying man.