Plymouth Colony settlers sign the Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact, signed on November 11, 1620, was a foundational document for self-governance in what would later become the United States. Crafted by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower before they disembarked at Plymouth Rock, the Compact was a social contract aimed at ensuring order and cooperation among the settlers. It established the principle that the colony would be governed by the consent of the governed, with laws created for the general good of the settlement. Signed by 41 male passengers, the Compact is significant because it laid the groundwork for democratic governance and the rule of law in the New World, reflecting early notions of majority rule and civil agreement. Despite its brevity, the Mayflower Compact is often celebrated as a precursor to the broader democratic ideals that shaped the U.S. Constitution over a century later.