Plymouth Colony
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Imagine being on an overcrowded ship for 66 days to get religious
freedom, it is smelly and loud. You are wearing the same clothes as
you were when you got on the ship, having only saltwater to bathe.
Ocean as far as the eye can see. That is what the Pilgrims, Separatists
or Saints as they called themselves, did. They also had hardships when
they landed . Their new government helped though.
freedom, it is smelly and loud. You are wearing the same clothes as
you were when you got on the ship, having only saltwater to bathe.
Ocean as far as the eye can see. That is what the Pilgrims, Separatists
or Saints as they called themselves, did. They also had hardships when
they landed . Their new government helped though.
The Grueling Journey
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| Google Images |
The Pilgrims’ journey was treacherous. The Separatists had a good
reason for going on it though, they wanted religious freedom. In
England, where they were from, everyone had to belong to the church
of England but the Pilgrims were not members. They had secret church
meetings until officials found out and arrested some men. They then
moved to Holland where they could worship freely. However because
they were immigrants they had trouble finding employment. When
they did it was often backbreaking work for little pay. Their children
started acting more Dutch than English and they thought they had to
do something. That something was the Mayflower journey. Researchers
think this must have been a hard decision to make.
reason for going on it though, they wanted religious freedom. In
England, where they were from, everyone had to belong to the church
of England but the Pilgrims were not members. They had secret church
meetings until officials found out and arrested some men. They then
moved to Holland where they could worship freely. However because
they were immigrants they had trouble finding employment. When
they did it was often backbreaking work for little pay. Their children
started acting more Dutch than English and they thought they had to
do something. That something was the Mayflower journey. Researchers
think this must have been a hard decision to make.
horse (salted beef, pork, or fish) and hardtack. Things were super
cramped and uncomfortable, most people slept on the floor.
Pilgrims could not keep clean either, if they wanted a bath they
would have had to take it with saltwater, and they wore the same
clothes the entire journey. Historians think the Separatists must
have been very scared. The Pilgrims also did not know if they were
going to make it to the New World. The Saints must have been so
thankful to see land.
The Tough Land Life
When the Pilgrims first saw land it was not actually Plymouth, it was Cape Cod. The Settlers decided not to settle in Cape Cod because there were too many Indians and not enough fresh water. This caused the Pilgrims to worry however, Winter was coming soon. They stayed in Plymouth for a brief period while others explored one last time before Winter. Once the men found Plymouth they decided it was the best place to settle. It must have been intimidating, all the Indians and land as far as the eye can see. Once they got there they had to build houses, but Winter was coming. The Separatists decided that the single people would move in with large families until they could build more houses. Perhaps it was hard to get used to cramped houses, rather than their houses in England. First they built the common house. The builders of the other houses slept there. Once the other houses were complete the Common house was used for storing tools and grain, and a church meeting house. It even was used as a hospital.
Google Images
The first Winter in 1620 was hard. Many of the Pilgrims died from sickness.
In the end however, the Settlers were successful. To celebrate the good 1621
harvest season, the Pilgrims hosted the first Thanksgiving with their Native
American friends who taught them so much. You may think the Separatists’
Thanksgiving meal was the same as ours but actually, the meal has changed.
The Pilgrims would have ate seafood, venison, goose, and maybe turkey but
not as a main dish, no pie or cranberry sauce either. The meal was influenced
by cookbooks written by Sarah J. Hale, a leading voice in getting Thanksgiving
established as an official holiday. Writers think it is very interesting that the
Thanksgiving feast has evolved so much.
In the end however, the Settlers were successful. To celebrate the good 1621
harvest season, the Pilgrims hosted the first Thanksgiving with their Native
American friends who taught them so much. You may think the Separatists’
Thanksgiving meal was the same as ours but actually, the meal has changed.
The Pilgrims would have ate seafood, venison, goose, and maybe turkey but
not as a main dish, no pie or cranberry sauce either. The meal was influenced
by cookbooks written by Sarah J. Hale, a leading voice in getting Thanksgiving
established as an official holiday. Writers think it is very interesting that the
Thanksgiving feast has evolved so much.
The Important Documents
Before The Pilgrims even came to land they wanted to make an
agreement on paper that said they would support each other and work
together to the good of the colony. Settlers also wanted a better
government than they had in England, one that had them governing
themselves. They voted on a Governor, for example. Researchers think
there was a lot of pressure on the men creating the document. This
document was called the Mayflower Compact. It helped the Pilgrims
succeed in the new world.
agreement on paper that said they would support each other and work
together to the good of the colony. Settlers also wanted a better
government than they had in England, one that had them governing
themselves. They voted on a Governor, for example. Researchers think
there was a lot of pressure on the men creating the document. This
document was called the Mayflower Compact. It helped the Pilgrims
succeed in the new world.
The early days in the New Word had many challenges. Indians were
one of their biggest threats, and the Pilgrims were afraid of them.
One day an Indian named Samoset came to their village. It must have
been scary because he could have attacked them. Samoset spoke English
from earlier encounters with explorers. He was nice to the Settlers and
spent the night. The Separatists gave him gifts. Later Samoset brought
Squanto another Native American along. Afterwards Samoset and
Squanto organized the chief of the Indian tribe, Massasoit, to meet with
the Governor of Plymouth. They established a peace treaty that lasted
nearly 50 years. This was the start of The Pilgrims good relationship
with Indians. You might think that the Native Americans and Pilgrims
were friends from the beginning, but actually the Native Americans fired
at their first exploring party, seeing them as a threat.
one of their biggest threats, and the Pilgrims were afraid of them.
One day an Indian named Samoset came to their village. It must have
been scary because he could have attacked them. Samoset spoke English
from earlier encounters with explorers. He was nice to the Settlers and
spent the night. The Separatists gave him gifts. Later Samoset brought
Squanto another Native American along. Afterwards Samoset and
Squanto organized the chief of the Indian tribe, Massasoit, to meet with
the Governor of Plymouth. They established a peace treaty that lasted
nearly 50 years. This was the start of The Pilgrims good relationship
with Indians. You might think that the Native Americans and Pilgrims
were friends from the beginning, but actually the Native Americans fired
at their first exploring party, seeing them as a threat.
The Pilgrims had to face many challenges, a difficult journey to an
unknown destination and troubles in settling a new land, and hard
work to make a successful government.They kept going though and
were a success in the end. The Separatists must have been so happy to
finally have their religious freedom. Would you have done everything
the Pilgrims did to get to religious freedom?
unknown destination and troubles in settling a new land, and hard
work to make a successful government.They kept going though and
were a success in the end. The Separatists must have been so happy to
finally have their religious freedom. Would you have done everything
the Pilgrims did to get to religious freedom?
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