Upon landing in Plymouth, the Pilgrims found themselves without the protection of the laws of England and lacking any social or political order to make and enforce laws for the common good. So they put together a document, later called the Mayflower Compact, agreeing to empower themselves to make laws "for the general good of the colony" and promising to submit to the authority of these laws. The compact stemmed from the Magna Carta of 1215, which transferred some power to the people by establishing the English Parliament and limiting the power of the king. The Mayflower Compact later influenced the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Make your own copy of the Mayflower Compact as a school project to learn more about the intentions and ideas that the Pilgrims held when setting out to form a new country.
- White paper
- Tea
- Matches or lighter
- Quill pen
- Ink
- Brown or black flat tip calligraphy pen
Show More
Instructions
-
-
1
Crumple a piece of white paper into a ball and then flatten it out. Soak the paper in hot tea for 15 to 20 minutes. Let it dry completely and rip the edges for an antique look. Carefully char the edges under adult supervision for additional aging.
-
2
Read the text of the Mayflower Compact. Look at the lettering style on an old written copy and practice imitating the old-style handwriting using a quill pen and ink. Carefully copy the Mayflower Compact onto the faux parchment in 17th century lettering, including the signatures of the 41 signers.
-
-
3
Insert the document into a simple wooden frame or make a cardboard frame to display the Compact for viewers.