Final answer:
The concept of self-government, as demonstrated by the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact, was important to the future of the colonies because it established a precedent of representative government, fostered a sense of unity and independence, and laid the groundwork for democracy and individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of self-government, as demonstrated by the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact, was important to the future of the colonies for several reasons.
First, it established a precedent of representative government, where elected officials made laws on behalf of the people. This allowed the colonists to have a voice in the governance of their own communities.
Second, self-government helped foster a sense of unity and independence among the colonists, as they worked together to create and uphold their own laws.
Lastly, self-government laid the groundwork for the principles of democracy and individual rights that would be central to the formation of the United States.