What is the Mayflower Compact primarily known for?

The Mayflower Compact is primarily known for creating a framework for self-governance in the Plymouth Colony. This document was signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 before they disembarked from their ship, the Mayflower. It marked an important moment in American history as it represented the first formal agreement for self-governance based on the consent of the governed, which laid the foundation for the development of democratic practices in the New World. The signers pledged to create laws and policies for the good of the colony, establishing a system where authority stemmed from the will of the group, rather than external powers. This concept would greatly influence future democratic governance in the United States.