The Mayflower Compact and Plymouth Pilgrims: The Mayflower Compact and Plymouth

The Pilgrims Leave England In 1607, a group of English Separatists, known as Pilgrims, moved from England to Holland to religious freedom from persecution Separatists- Pilgrims who wanted to SEPARATE from the Church of England They became unhappy in Holland Received a charter in 1620 to settle in the Virginia Colony.

In 1620 they set sail on the Mayflower headed for the Virginia Colony. The Pilgrims agreed to work for the company as indentured servants. What other colony that we have discussed received a charter to settle in the New World? What is an indentured servant? How do they differ from slaves?

From Virginia to Massachusetts In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail for Virginia on the Mayflower …BUT a storm blew them North Massachusetts. Oops… They named their new settlement Plymouth. What possible problems might they encounter?

Since they landed outside of the limits of the charter, it did not apply. The Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact as a way to create laws for the colony. It was a social contract meant to benefit the whole settlement. It was the first example of self-government in the colonies Do you think this was a good idea? Why or why not? Mayflower Compact, 1620

Pilgrims’ First Winter Just like Jamestown, the Pilgrims went through a starving time. More than 1/2 of the settlers died during the 1st winter. Native American Help Samoset and Squanto were Native Americans who had learned to speak English from European fishermen. They helped negotiate a peace treaty and showed the Pilgrims how to plant, hunt, and fish.

The First Thanksgiving In the fall, the settlers celebrated the blessings of their good harvest with a three-day feast. This became known as the first Thanksgiving. Officially made a holiday by Lincoln in 1863 That feast came to represent the peace that existed between the settlers and the Indians at the time. The First Thanksgiving