The Mayflower reaches Cape Cod, Pilgrims write the Mayflower Compact

Following an arduous trans Atlantic voyage of 66 days, facing a shortage of supplies, and struggling for several days on rough seas as they attempt to head further south to their original destination. they ultimately anchor in Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod.

Considering their lack of patent to settle land in this area, the settlers draw up and sign the colony’s first governing document, the Mayflower Compact (originally titled Agreement Between the Settlers of New Plymouth), while still aboard and offshore, to confirm the colony would be governed much like an English town by “just and equal” laws.