<P> The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony . It was written by the male passengers of the Mayflower, consisting of separatist Puritans, adventurers, and tradesmen . The Puritans were fleeing from religious persecution by King James of England . </P> <P> The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard ship on November 11, 1620 . They used the Julian Calendar, also known as Old Style dates, which was ten days behind the Gregorian Calendar . Signing the covenant were 41 of the ship's 101 passengers while the Mayflower was anchored in Provincetown Harbor within the hook at the northern tip of Cape Cod . </P> <P> The Mayflower was originally bound for the Colony of Virginia, financed by the Company of Merchant Adventurers of London . Storms forced them to anchor at the hook of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, however, as it was unwise to continue with provisions running short . This inspired some of the non-Puritan passengers (whom the Puritans referred to as "Strangers") to proclaim that they "would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them" since they would not be settling in the agreed - upon Virginia territory . To prevent this, the Pilgrims determined to establish their own government, while still affirming their allegiance to the Crown of England . Thus, the Mayflower Compact was based simultaneously upon a majoritarian model and the settlers' allegiance to the king . It was in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the community's rules and regulations for the sake of order and survival . </P>

When did the pilgrims sign the mayflower compact