November 21, 1620 — the Mayflower Compact is signed
Before setting foot ashore, 41 men aboard the Mayflower signed a compact agreeing to make and obey "just and equal laws" for the good of the colony. It was one of the first times English colonists agreed to govern themselves by mutual consent — self-government written down 156 years before the Declaration.
Common Questions About November 21
What happened on November 21 in American history?
In 1620: the Mayflower Compact is signed. Before setting foot ashore, 41 men aboard the Mayflower signed a compact agreeing to make and obey "just and equal laws" for the good of the colony.
Why is November 21 significant?
Before setting foot ashore, 41 men aboard the Mayflower signed a compact agreeing to make and obey "just and equal laws" for the good of the colony. It was one of the first times English colonists agreed to govern themselves by mutual consent — self-government written down 156 years before the Declaration.
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