Why is the Mayflower Compact significant?

The significance of the Mayflower Compact is best captured by the statement: **It was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists.**

The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, laid the foundation for self-government in the Plymouth Colony. It established a social contract in which the signers agreed to form a government and abide by its rules for the sake of their mutual survival and well-being. This document is often seen as an important step toward democratic governance in America.