8. The Mayflower Compact: More a Necessity Than Ideals
Often hailed as an early model of democracy, the Mayflower Compact was primarily forged to quell civil unrest by creating a mechanism for governance, not pure idealism. The Pilgrims had intended to settle within the Virginia Company’s jurisdiction, but storms forced them off course to Cape Cod, outside the company’s domain. This led to disputes among passengers, prompting the leaders to draft the Compact to establish a unified government and prevent potential mutiny. (history.com)
