The Mayflower Compact is frequently cited as the beginning of American democracy, as it involved the people of the Mayflower (the ones that survived the ocean voyage that is) coming together and agreeing in written form on norms that would govern their community as they began their new lives in the North American wilderness. It was signed by the 41 males who were present, and determined the distribution of authority and the provision of governance by fair laws, the absence of which had caused previous English settlements to fail.