U.S. History STAAR ( State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?

1. It established trade regulations

2. It promoted military alliances

3. It laid the groundwork for self-government

4. It emphasized religious tolerance

The correct answer is: It laid the groundwork for self-government

The Mayflower Compact is significant because it laid the groundwork for self-government in the early American colonies. Drafted in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, it was an agreement among the settlers to create a civil government and to abide by its rules for the sake of order and survival. This document represented one of the first forms of democracy in America, as it emphasized the idea of governing through consent and the collective authority of the people rather than by a higher authority. The compact established a precedent for future governance and the notion that a government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, a principle that would influence the development of democratic governance in the United States. Other options do not capture the essence of the Mayflower Compact. While it may have contributed to other areas over time, it was primarily focused on self-governance among the settlers. Trade regulations and military alliances came later as the colonies developed further, and religious tolerance was not a primary concern of the Pilgrims, who were seeking a place to practice their own beliefs freely.