Question

The engraving, “The Pilgrims signing the compact,” helps historians understand what happened at the signing of the Mayflower Compact in 1620. Do you agree or disagree? Use your knowledge of the Mayflower Compact and your Historical Thinking Skills to support your answer. Be sure to utilize the ACE method to write your response.

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes, agreed. However, it's necessary to go beyond the engraving to understand what really happened.

Explanation:

An engraving, like any other art piece, gives us a point of view. So, in order to use art as a historical source, we have to support our answer and explanation with readings and writings of the period. As we know, the Mayflower Compact is a document where the Pilgrims addressed it with just and egalitarian laws for the general good of colonization and according to the will of the majority. Mayflower passengers knew that previous New World settlers had failed due to the lack of a government system. They discussed its content and then drafted the Pact for the sake of their own survival. So, after reading the document, and the point of view of other historians, we can support our answer carefully and use the engraving.