What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?

The significance of the Mayflower Compact lies primarily in its role as one of the earliest forms of self-government and social contract among the Pilgrims. Signed in 1620 by the adult male passengers aboard the Mayflower, the Compact represented a foundational moment for governance in the New World. It established a collective agreement to create a civil body politic to promote mutual survival and cooperation, reflecting the Pilgrims' intention to create a society based on majority rule rather than enforcing authority from afar.

This agreement underscored the importance of self-governance and the idea that political power derives from the consent of the governed, which would later influence the development of democratic principles in America. While the Mayflower Compact is not a constitution in the modern sense, it set the precedent for future governing documents and inspired later democratic structures. Therefore, its essence as a social contract of mutual agreement among the settlers is pivotal to understanding its significance in American history.