1. Pilgrims, Puritans & their legacy to America

2. Who Were the Pilgrims?
Group of English Calvinists in 1500 – 1600’s who sought to “purify” the English Church from Roman Catholicism
Their religious practices severely restricted by English law controlling religion
Puritans divided into two groups: Separatists & non-Separatists
Separatists went to the Netherlands (freedom of religion there) but became concerned that their children were becoming Dutch
It was the Separatists who took the Mayflower for America

3. Not All the People on the Mayflower Were Separatists
The horrors suffered by colonists at Jamestown, in Virginia, were well-known.
Many Englishmen felt that the Jamestown colonists had gone to America grossly unprepared.
The Separatists vowed not to repeat those colonists’ mistakes.
They recruited tradespeople from London whose talents would be essential to building a new society—carpenters, blacksmiths, etc.

4. Differences of Opinion
These recruits were Anglicans.
But mostly, they were people who just wanted a chance to go to America.
The Separatists, then, were in the minority as the Mayflower set sail.
Fights between the two groups broke out almost immediately.
The two groups got on the others’ nerves,
Separatists had a hard time keeping control from the majority

5. The Mayflower Compact
Ship originally bound for Virginia but went badly off course
Landed in Cape Cod Massachusetts
This fact led the non-Separatists to say that since they were not in Virginia, they "would use their own liberty; for none had power to command them....
To prevent this, the Pilgrims chose to establish a government.
The Mayflower Compact was based both on a “majority rules” model and the settlers' allegiance to the king.
It was a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulations for the sake of order and survival.
Important as first written framework of government in the colonies

6. First Contact
Puritans moved from Cape Cod to Plymouth Mass. and set foot on land in December 1620
Forty-five of the 102 colonists died in the New England winter
In March, met up with Samoset, a Wampanoag Native American, who told them about his chief Massasoit and Squanto, a Wampanoag Native American who spoke excellent English

7. Should We or Shouldn’t We
Massasoit and Squanto were apprehensive about the Pilgrims.
In Massasoit's first contact with the English, several of his tribesmen had been killed by English sailors.
Squanto had been abducted as a slave in Europe.
He had returned to New England as a guide to Capt. Robert Gorges & rescued by Massasoit and his men
Samoset returned to Plymouth with Massasoit and Squanto.
After an exchange of gifts, Massasoit and Governor Carver established a formal peace treaty.
Treaty ensured that
each people would not bring harm to the other,
they would come to each other's aid in a time of war

8. Thanksgiving Plimoth Plantation Courtesy, Plimoth Plantation Visitor Center, Plymouth, MA

9. Thanksgiving or National Day of Mourning
Traditionally, first Thanksgiving seen as held in fall of 1621
Natives had taught settlers how to grow food & live in New England climate
Settlers had helped Massasoit repel attacks by other tribes on his territory
Wampanoag brought 6 deer to Pilgrims to thank them
Pilgrims felt they should respond in kind
Impromptu feast coincided with Indian harvest festival, but unusual for Pilgrims & Wampanoag to eat together
Pilgrims themselves actually viewed the first Thanksgiving in 1623 when more English settlers arrived at Plymouth Colony

10. How Do Native Americans View Thanksgiving?
In first native/settler encounters in 1620, curiosity, suspicion, and fear on both sides
Despite their fears, Wampanoags shared their land, food, and knowledge of the environment, allowing the Pilgrims to survive.
Unfortunately, this mutual cooperation and respect short-lived
By 1675 the relationship had degenerated into one of conflict and war
Massasoit’s son Metacom was enslaved after this war
For many Indians, Thanksgiving symbolizes betrayal and broken promises by European settlers and the U.S. government

11. What Did the Pilgrims Believe?
They were Calvinists
Believed in predestination --- that God decides at birth whether one is one of the “elect” (going to heaven) or damned.
Want to “purify” the church --- no artwork or incense; simplicity should prevail
Worldly work is a sacred duty
Frugality encouraged
Puritans confront the question: Am I one of the elect?
Creates tremendous uncertainty
Diligence in one's work came to be understood as a sign of being one of God's elect.

12. How Do the Pilgrims Affect Us Today?
Protestant (or Puritan) Work Ethic: Hard work and frugality that led to social success and wealth showed you were one of the elect
Protestantism, because it stressed duty and hard work boosted economic production and fostered the rise of capitalism (Max Weber)
“Rags to riches” story in US
Results:
Rich seen as good; poor people as bad or unworthy
Intolerance