What was the first document signed on the Mayflower?
While still on the ship, a group of 41 men signed the so-called Mayflower Compact, agreeing to form a "social body politic." This document would serve as the basis for the future colony's governance. The Mayflower Compact, signed on November 11, 1620, was the first treaty to create self-government in the New World. The ship on which they had voyaged, the Mayflower, had run into trouble during a storm and been forced to land on what is now known as Cape Cod. On board were about 100 people, mostly young men from London who had moved to Virginia in order to establish a new life. They had already spent three years living with Native Americans in Virginia before being told by their government that they could move west and set up their own settlement. When the passengers landed on shore, they found there was no water or food enough for everyone, so some of the younger men went back to the ship to get supplies. When they returned, they found that the rest of the people weren't on board - probably because they didn't have permission from the captain to leave the ship. So these men decided to keep the peace between themselves and the other colonists by signing what has become known as the "Mayflower Compact." In this compact, each man agreed to help maintain law and order and share power equally. It also said that if any man was guilty of murder, he would be punished by his fellow citizens.