Tag: American political history

1620: Mayflower Compact

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Analyze the Mayflower Compact as a cornerstone of American democracy.

CONTEXT:

In the late 1500s, a number of religious groups arose in England trying to establish different practices from the Anglican Church, the official church of England. One of these groups was called the Puritans, because they wanted to make the Anglican Church more pure and simple. Another group was called the Separatists, because they wanted to separate from the Anglican Church altogether. The Pilgrims were separatists, and they were severely persecuted for their religious beliefs. They eventually moved to Holland where religious ideas were more tolerant.

But the Pilgrims remained Englishmen at heart, and eventually they were able to convince King James I of England to allow them to emigrate to the new colonies in America. In September 1620 they set sail for America with royal permission, called a patent, to settle in the colony of Virginia (which had been settled by Englishmen years before). The colony at that time was much larger than the state of Virginia today–in those days it reached present New York.

Rough seas led the Mayflower, the Pilgrim’s ship, to land in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, well north of where they were supposed to be. Since they were outside the control of the King’s patent, they needed to decide how they would be governed. They agreed to write a document for their own self-government, called The Mayflower Compact. This text is from that agreement. The Pilgrims later obtained a patent from the Council of New England in 1621 and settled Plymouth Colony.

TEXT:

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, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour 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 another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, 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 hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.or [signatures follow]

INQUIRY:

  1. Why did the signers begin by stating that they were loyal subjects of the King?
  2. What is a “civil body politic”?
  3. Why did the signers organize the “civil body politic”? What was its purpose?
  4. Plymouth Colony was an ocean away from the English King in London. How might this have affected the power and position of the local Puritans, ordinary men not accustomed to rank and privilege?
  5. The Pilgrims obtained a patent for the colony of Plymouth in 1621, but the Mayflower Compact was read at government meetings for many years. How might this reflect how the settlers saw their colony?
  6. Only men signed the Mayflower Compact. What does this suggest about the role of women at the time?
  7. If you elect the captain of a sports team or a group, how does this reflect the principle of the Mayflower Compact?
  8. What basic principle of US government was established by the Mayflower Compact?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

https://www.mass.gov/news/the-mayflower-compact

https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2015/novemberdecember/feature/who-were-the-pilgrims-who-celebrated-the-first-thanksgiving

1783: Washington resigns

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Assess the short and long term significance of General George Washington’s resignation of his military commission.

CONTEXT:

George Washington (1732-1799) served as the Commander in Chief of the American Forces in the American Revolution and in 1789 became the first president of the United States. While fighting in the American Revolution ended mainly with the Battle of Yorktown (1781), the war itself only ended with the Treaty of Paris (1783). In that two year period, the American Army stayed organized, with Washington as its leader, as the threat of new fighting remained. As Commander in Chief Washington constantly petitioned Congress for pay and better conditions for the soldiers who had fought in the Revolution, but there was little money; money had to be requested by Congress of the individual states. Several mutinies occurred over unpaid wages, supplies, and expiring enlistments, including the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny (1781) and the Newburgh Conspiracy (1783). Washington was able to quell these uprisings and retain control of the Army.

Washington had been appointed Commander in Chief of the American Forces in May of 1775, and many thought he would remain in power throughout his life. But the Treaty of Paris (1783) had been signed three months earlier and Washington saw his job as a military commander completed. During the War he had been granted broad powers and many thought he would continue to use them. But he did not. Having bid farewell to his soldiers the month before, in December 1783 he bid farewell to his officers and two days before Christmas in 1783 he addressed the Continental Congress in Annapolis, Maryland, to resign his commission. He then traveled to his home at Mount Vernon, hoping to live out his days as a farmer. His quiet life did not last long; he was elected President of the United States six years later, serving from 1789 until 1797. Washington died at Mount Vernon in 1799.

TEXT:

The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place; I have now the honor of offering my sincere Congratulations to Congress and of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the Service of my Country...

I resign with satisfaction the Appointment I accepted with diffidence. A diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our Cause, the support of the Supreme Power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven…

While I repeat my obligations to the Army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place the peculiar Services and distinguished merits of the Gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the War. It was impossible the choice of confidential Officers to compose my family should have been more fortunate. Permit me Sir, to recommend in particular those, who have continued in Service to the present moment, as worth of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress.

I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my Official life, by commending the Interests of our dearest Country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.

Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose order I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.

INQUIRY:

  1. Washington believed this would be his last act of public life, and he handed his commission and a copy of his remarks to Thomas Mifflin, the President of the Congress. He bowed to Congress and then left for Mount Vernon to be home for Christmas. What was the short term effect of Washington’s resignation?
  2. Many wanted Washington to remain in power as head of the Army and nation. Why would they want that?
  3. Washington said he accepted his commission with diffidence. What does that mean? What powers allowed him to overcome that diffidence? What does that say about Washington as a leader?
  4. How did Washington view his officers? What language did he use?
  5. What did Washington ask the Congress to provide for his officers?
  6. Investigate the Newburgh Conspiracy (1783). How might that have influenced Washington’s comments?
  7. Washington made several religious references. What does this say about his attitude regarding the success of the American Revolution?
  8. After Washington’s resignation the Continental Army essentially disbanded, leaving the colonies with no unified military force; eventually Congress took over the responsibilities of the Army. What dangers might the new United States have faced with no organized military force?
  9. When news of Washington voluntarily giving up political power to return to his farm spread across the nation and the world, people were astonished. How did this act represent what the American Revolution had been fought for?
  10. Today the US Constitution marks the President of the United States as the Commander in Chief of the Military. What fundamental principle of American democracy doe the placing of military power into the hands of a civilian (president) represent? How did Washington’s resignation establish this principle?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/resignation-of-military-commission

https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/general-george-washington-resigning-his-commission

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-06-02-0319-0004

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow (Penguin Books, 2011)