The compact declared that the colonists were loyal to the King of England, that they were Christians who served God, that they would make fair and just laws, and that they would each work for the good of the colony. They signed a document that is today called the Mayflower Compact. When the Pilgrims arrived in New England, they decided they needed to make an agreement on how issues would be settled and the colony would be run. After two long months at sea, the Pilgrims finally reached land.īy Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Mayflower Compact At one point, they considered turning back, but decided to stick it out. Storms also hit the ship very hard causing one of the main beams to crack. They ran out of fresh water and many people became sick. The extra people on the ship made the trip even worse. The voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was long and difficult. In addition to the 102 passengers, there were between 25 and 30 crewmen onboard the ship. They managed to fit 102 total passengers on the Mayflower, but they had to leave 20 of the original Speedwell passengers behind. Once back at port, they crowded as many of the passengers as possible onto the Mayflower and set sail once again for America on September 6, 1620. However, not long after leaving England, the Speedwell began to leak and the Pilgrims had to return to port. The Pilgrims initially set sail aboard two ships the Speedwell and the Mayflower. Other Pilgrims were hoping to find adventure or a better life in the New World. They were not allowed to do this in England where they were persecuted and sometimes put in jail for their beliefs. They were called this because they wanted to "separate" from the Church of England and worship God in their own way. Many of the Pilgrims were part of a religious group called Separatists. The Pilgrims traveled to America in search of a new way of life. The legacy of the pilgrims lives on today, as can be seen in the yearly celebration of Thanksgiving.Source: Wikimedia Commons Why did the Pilgrims travel to America? Eventually, Plymouth became part of the larger Massachusetts in 1691. Three additional ships joined Plymouth Colony, and over 1,000 Puritans formed Boston nearby. The result for both sides was devastating.ĭespite facing trials, Plymouth continued to grow and flourish. Some tribes fought to prevent further English settlement while others sided with the pilgrims. Eventually, the conflict led to King Philip’s War, also referred to as the First Indian War. Religious persecution and tensions between different groups often led to violence in the colonies.Ĭomplex relationships with Native American tribes also escalated tensions in the area as the colony expanded. Some other groups weren’t as tolerant of differing beliefs. While the pilgrims on the Mayflower set out to seek religious freedom, they were not the only ones seeking freedom. However, life was not always picture-perfect in the New World. They were also able to secure their colony’s standing and establish a “self-sufficient economy” based on farming, hunting, and trading. In the first years of the colony, the Mayflower pilgrims negotiated peace treaties with local Native American tribes. This celebration set the precedence for Thanksgiving as we know and love it today. They famously celebrated the first American Thanksgiving alongside the Pokanoket people to give thanks for their newfound success and the harvest. After exploring the area, the Mayflower pilgrims eventually decided to stay, partially due to harsh seas and dwindling supplies.īy the time fall came around, the pilgrims were well on their way to starting a successful colony. As a result, they landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Mayflower was intended to land in Virginia, but storms shifted the ship’s course north. Together, they did just that as they founded Plymouth Colony. Life in PlymouthĪfter a difficult voyage, the pilgrims were thrilled to land and start a new life. For the following months, the Mayflower served as a source of shelter for many of the pilgrims during their first winter. Many on board were constantly seasick and rarely got up, but they held together with a sense of divine purpose as they approached their destination and withstood the storms.Īfter two long, hard months at sea, passengers were overjoyed to spot the coastline. With cramped quarters and rough seas, the trip turned out to be rather dreadful. Because of the delays, the Mayflower left England in September, putting them in the middle of storm season for the duration of their voyage.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |