Who wrote the Mayflower Compact and what viewpoints and beliefs did the authors hold?

The Mayflower Compact was drafted by the Pilgrims, a group of English settlers seeking religious freedom, who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. The principal authors included William Bradford and other leaders of the group, who held beliefs centered around self-governance, communal responsibility, and a commitment to creating a just society based on their religious principles. They sought to establish a framework for cooperation and order among the settlers in their new environment, reflecting their desire for a covenant community guided by shared values.