Why is the Mayflower Compact significant? (1 point) It was the first written document forbidding colonists from voting directly on laws. It was the first written document that did not recognize citizens' rights. It was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists. It was the first written government document not created by the colonists.
The Mayflower Compact is significant because it was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists.
The Mayflower Compact is significant because it was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists.
The Mayflower Compact is significant because it was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists. To understand why it is significant, let's break down the options provided.
Option 1: It was the first written document forbidding colonists from voting directly on laws.
This option is incorrect because the Mayflower Compact did not prohibit colonists from voting directly on laws. In fact, the Compact established that laws would be made for the general good of the colony and decided upon by the consent of the majority.
Option 2: It was the first written document that did not recognize citizens' rights.
This option is incorrect as well because the Mayflower Compact actually recognized and protected the rights of the colonists. It emphasized the establishment of just and equal laws for the general good of the colony.
Option 3: It was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists.
This option is correct. The Mayflower Compact represents the colonists' attempt to establish a social contract and a framework for self-government while preserving their rights and liberties. It acknowledged that authority derived from the consent of the governed, providing a foundation for democratic principles.
Option 4: It was the first written government document not created by the colonists.
This option is also incorrect. The Mayflower Compact was indeed created by the colonists, specifically the Pilgrims, who were seeking self-governance and landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The document was drafted and signed by the male passengers aboard the Mayflower.
Ultimately, the correct answer is that the Mayflower Compact was the first written expression of citizens' rights by the colonists.