English Colonization- Plymouth Coach kuntz United states history

Who Were the Pilgrims? -In Europe, most countries had a state supported religion. In England that religion was the Church of England and the English king or queen was the head of the Church. -A group now known as the pilgrims disagreed with the teachings of the Church of England and, whenever they practiced their own beliefs, they were persecuted. -At first the pilgrims moved to the Netherlands to practice their religion. But they missed their English way of life and wanted their children to grow up in a more English setting rather than being Dutch. Pilgrims- Anyone who makes a long journey for religious reasons

The Pilgrims Come to America -In the early 1600s, a group of pilgrims returned to England and, along with some non-pilgrims, they managed to get a charter to set up a colony in Virginia. -In 1620, 100 people (men, women, and children) boarded a ship called the Mayflower and sailed to America. -These colonists left to go to America for primarily religious reasons. -Two months after leaving England, the Mayflower landed in present day Massachusetts, not in Virginia as their charter stated. -They decided to call their new colony Plymouth

The Mayflower Compact In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

The Mayflower Compact -Because the colonists landed in Massachusetts rather than Virginia, some of the non-pilgrims on the Mayflower did not think they had to follow the rules of the charter. -The Pilgrims realized that they needed rules to govern their new colony, so they drafted the Mayflower Compact -The Mayflower Compact was a contract in which the Plymouth colonists agreed to follow the Compacts rules and regulations for the good of the colony. -The Compact was an early example of successful self-governance and democracy -The compact was signed by all 41 male passengers

The First Winter -The colonists built their colony on top of an empty Native American village and the colonists located baskets of corn that they could use for survival…but it wasn’t enough. -Because the Pilgrims arrived in November 1620, they did not have time to plant crops before winter. They also did not bring enough food on the Mayflower. -During the first winter, half of the colonists died of starvation and disease. -Among those who died was the colonies first governor. William Bradford was elected as the new governor of the colony.

Things Get Better for Plymouth -In the first spring, the Pilgrims began planting crops for the first time. -The Wampanoags (the local Native American tribe) helped the Pilgrims survive. The Wampanoags provided the colonists with seeds of local plants (corn, beans, and pumpkins) and taught the colonists how to farm the land. -At the end of the first fall, the harvest was so good that the Pilgrims celebrated with a day of thanksgiving. -The Pilgrims maintained a relatively good relationship with the surrounding Native American tribes.

Things Get Better for Plymouth (Cont.) -The colony of Plymouth became very wealthy by trading furs. -Under the leadership of William Bradford, the colony grew quickly. By 1643, an estimated 2,000 people lived in Plymouth.

Review 1. What is a pilgrim? 2. Why did the Pilgrims sail to America? 3. Why was the Mayflower Compact important? 4. What effect did the first winter have on the Plymouth colony? 5. Which governor helped successfully lead and grow the Plymouth colony? 6. Explain the Plymouth Colony’s relationship with the local Native American tribes. 7. What was the major source of profit for the colony at Plymouth? 8. Be able to identify similarities and differences between the Plymouth and Jamestown colonies.