What was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony, written by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower?

The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony, created by the Pilgrims while they were aboard the Mayflower in 1620. This document established a rudimentary form of democracy, where the signers agreed to form a government and abide by its laws for the general good of the colony. It was significant as it represented one of the first attempts at self-governance in the New World, emphasizing the principles of majority rule and cooperation among the settlers. The Compact laid the foundation for future governance in America and is often viewed as a precursor to the Constitution.

The other choices are distinct and not relevant to the founding of Plymouth Colony. The Magna Carta was a charter agreed to in 1215 that limited the powers of the English monarch but did not pertain to the governance of Plymouth. The Articles of Confederation were adopted much later, in 1781, as the first constitution for the United States, and the Federalist Papers were a series of essays written to promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in the late 18th century.