Mayflower and Plymouth Colony
In November 1620 the Mayflower landed 102 Separatist Puritans and other colonists at what became Plymouth, Massachusetts. Before landing, 41 male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact—a brief agreement establishing self-governance based on consent, often cited as an early document of democratic principles. The Plymouth Colony struggled initially but survived with assistance from the Wampanoag people and eventually merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. The 'Pilgrim Fathers' became foundational figures in the mythology of American origins and the idea of colonial self-governance.
- Year: 1620 CE
- Category: Political
