What was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony?

The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony, established in 1620 by the English settlers who arrived on the Mayflower. This agreement was significant because it laid the foundation for self-governance in the New World and was a pioneering step toward establishing a democratic form of government. The signers of the Mayflower Compact promised to create a society governed by majority rule, which marked a crucial moment in American political development.

It was a response to the lack of a legal basis for the settlers' new community since they had arrived outside of the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company. The compact aimed to maintain order and establish a social contract among the settlers. Unlike other historical documents in the list, such as the Articles of Confederation or the Declaration of Independence, the Mayflower Compact directly addressed the immediate needs of the Plymouth settlers as they sought to create a stable society. The Fundamental Orders, on the other hand, were a later document associated with Connecticut and did not pertain to the governance of Plymouth Colony.