The Mayflower Compact: The First Governing Document of Plymouth Colony

The Mayflower Compact was a foundational agreement signed by the male passengers of the Mayflower in 1620, establishing a self-governing body for the <a href="/article/plymouth-colony">Plymouth Colony</a>. It created a "civil Body Politick" and pledged to enact "just and equal Laws" for the general good, serving as an early example of democratic principles in America.