What was the first real political contract document in American history?

From about 65438 to the 1980s, the British began to settle in North America in a planned way. Some of them are trying to avoid domestic political persecution, and some are forced by the pressure of survival to find opportunities to get rich. For these new immigrants, this is a completely different new environment, and it is also the beginning of their yearning for a better future. /kloc-At the beginning of the 0/7th century, the arrival of an immigrant ship named "Mayflower" heralded a new stage of British exploration of North America.

The Mayflower sailed to North America.

During the Reformation in England, Puritans were brutally persecuted by the Anglican Church. One of the Christians was called a "separatist", and they were particularly persecuted. 1608, in order to escape religious and political persecution at home, these Christians fled the United States under the leadership of a man named john robinson, and first came to the Netherlands, which faces the United States across the sea. They found that Holland was not a place to live for a long time. In order to find a new ideal residence and open a new world for the Puritans who are still persecuted in China, they thought of immigrating to North America, where they would build a beautiful home for their Puritans. Soon these people signed a contract with a European immigration company called Virginia to immigrate to North America. However, it was not until 1620 that these talents obtained the right to immigrate and settle in North America, and the financial support needed to immigrate to North America. On September 23rd this year, this group of Puritans, led by pastor Preston, took a sailboat named "Mayflower" and went to their beautiful dream garden-North America. May flower was originally a fishing boat. After a series of modifications, it became the Noah's Ark for this group of people to sail to America. The modified fishing boat is about 27 meters long and fully loaded 180 tons. The whole ship carried 102 people, including 35 Puritans, and the others were unemployed craftsmen, bankrupt fishermen and people who lost their land. When they left, almost no one believed that the wrecked ship could carry the 102 people to the other side of the ocean safely, because this season is not suitable for ocean navigation. After 66 days of wandering,1620165438+1October 2 1, they finally arrived at a place called Dakot Point (provine, Massachusetts, USA today). During the 66-day voyage, this group of people paid a heavy price. Four of them died of illness, and most of them came ashore sick. However, others are disappointed that this is not the place they want to go, because according to the immigration contract signed in advance-they can't settle here. No way, these immigrants moved on and stopped at a place we call Plymouth Bay today. This place is close to the Atlantic Ocean, with pleasant climate and fertile soil, which is especially suitable for living and living. It does not violate the contract they signed with the immigration company to settle here. Seeing the beautiful scenery, rich forests, water and other resources here, the first group of British people took it for granted that this was a gift from God. They forgot that the Indians had thrived here before they arrived. But regardless of these, they insisted on treating themselves as the masters here, which laid the foundation for Virginia, the first British colony in North America.

"Mayflower" Convention

Among the 100 people who went to North America by Mayflower, there are all kinds of people, but one thing is the same, that is, they are all people who can't find a way out and realize their ideals in Britain or Europe. During the journey of more than 60 days, this 100 people not only struggled with the sea and wind and waves, but also faced various difficulties such as hunger, cold and lack of fresh water. Many people were desperate and once had the idea of committing suicide by jumping into the sea.

It's almost the Garden of Eden in my dream, but the Mayflower won't leave. Several people, led by William Brewster, began to think about whether to continue to accept the management of their motherland Britain. Who will manage their new home in the future and how? A series of questions were put before them, so they decided to put them in front of them. They decided to find out and solve these problems before going ashore.

Later, william bradford, director of the Immigration Bureau, called the people on board to discuss these issues. Of course, only 5 1 men on board are eligible to participate in the discussion, and women and children are only allowed to attend. It took about 300 years for North American women to win the right to vote. After a heated debate, these 5 1 people decided to formulate some systems to manage their future homes, so as to build an orderly and rigorous society. They put these ideas into words, and all the 5 1 men who participated in the discussion signed these words. This document is the famous Mayflower Convention. This convention requires that people who arrive at their new residence now and in the future must uphold the religious beliefs of Puritans, swear allegiance to the British government headed by the King of England, voluntarily establish civil autonomous social organizations in their new residence, and abide by the laws, regulations and systems that have been determined to be beneficial to the new residence.

After the contract was signed, these people went ashore under the leadership of William Brewster, and finally chose the coastal area of Plymouth Bay as their settlement. Later, historians regarded the Mayflower Convention as the first real political contract document in American history, which was a milestone in American history.