The Mayflower Compact, signed by the Pilgrims on November 11, 1620, served as a foundational document for governance in the Plymouth Colony. Drawing up the Compact was necessary after the Pilgrims landed outside the jurisdiction of their original charter, thus lacking a legal framework for governance. The Compact established a social contract, wherein the signers agreed to create a civil government and abide by its laws for the sake of order and survival. This early self-governing agreement is significant as it laid the groundwork for democratic principles and governance in future American colonies.