What document is considered a foundational agreement made by the Pilgrims?

The Mayflower Compact is recognized as a foundational agreement made by the Pilgrims in 1620. This document was significant because it established a framework for self-governance in the new colony of Plymouth. The Pilgrims, having landed outside the territory of the Virginia Company, felt it necessary to create a formal agreement to ensure order and cooperation among the settlers.

The Compact was signed by 41 men aboard the Mayflower and laid out the principles of majority rule and collective decision-making, which became a cornerstone of democratic governance in the New World. It emphasized the importance of collaboration for the common good as they faced the challenges of surviving in an unfamiliar land. This early form of social contract marked a critical moment in American political development, indicating a shift towards self-governance away from the traditional structures imposed by European powers.

The other documents mentioned, like the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights, emerged in a different context and were more about limiting the power of the monarchy and establishing certain rights in England. The Declaration of Independence, although crucial in American history, was created much later and was focused on declaring the colonies' separation from British rule rather than establishing governance in a settlement context like the Mayflower Compact.