What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact (1620)?

The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, is significant primarily because it established a form of self-government for the settlers. This document was created to provide a framework for governance for the new colony at Plymouth, acting as an agreement among the settlers to create a government and abide by its laws for the good of the colony.

The Compact is often recognized as one of the first steps toward democratic governance in America, as it represented an early form of social contract where the signers agreed to work together for the common good. This commitment to self-governance and mutual support laid the groundwork for future democratic practices in colonial America.

Other options do not accurately capture its significance. The Mayflower Compact was not a charter for a colony, nor did it address religious freedom or create a treaty with Native Americans. Instead, its essence was about establishing governance among the settlers themselves.