jeffrey morrison is here with us today to discuss the mayflower compact and religious liberty in the united states. he will reaffirm the importance of american institutions, particularly religious freedom and the freedom of speech, as well as civil society. necessary to is respond to the emerging narrative that aims to deconstruct american institutions and working civil society. dr. jeffrey morrison is professor of american studies at christopher newport university in virginia and director of academics at the federal government's james madison foundation in alexandria, virginia. has held faculty positions from princeton university to the u.s. air force academy. he has published as an author and editor five books on american political culture, including the political philosophy of george washington. ladies and gentlemen, let us give dr. morrison a warm welcome. >> thank you for that introduction and in the next 12 minutes i will talk about the main power compact and it's -- mayflower compact and its relationship to religious liberty. that is an american innovation, and it begins with