The Mayflower Compact was important because it was one of the first agreements to establish self-government and majority rule in the English colonies in North America. Created in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, it was a social contract where the settlers consented to form a government and abide by its laws for the general good of the colony. This compact laid the groundwork for future colonial governance and democratic principles in America by promoting government by the consent of the governed and unity among settlers who found themselves outside the jurisdiction of their original charter. Its ideals influenced later foundational documents of the United States, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, making it a key precursor to American democracy.