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The Rules of the Mayflower Compact
‘While they intended to form a government for their new colony, the Pilgrims and others aboard the Mayflower were not declaring their independence: The Mayflower Compact (though the Pilgrims never called it that) began with a clear statement of loyalty to King James of England, along with a commitment to God and to…
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Why Did the Pilgrims Come to America?
‘While it’s popularly thought that the Pilgrims fled England in search of religious freedom, the separatists’ quest had ended more than a decade before they boarded the Mayflower. After departing England in 1608, the Pilgrims found sanctuary in the Dutch city of Leiden, where they were free to worship and enjoyed “much…
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The Mayflower story
‘The Mayflower set sail on 16th September 1620 from Plymouth, UK, to voyage to America. But its history and story start long before that. Its passengers were in search of a new life – some seeking religious freedom, others a fresh start in a different land. They would go on to be known as the Pilgrims and influence the…
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The Pilgrims' Miserable Journey Aboard the Mayflower
Tiffi’s phone rings and it’s Yeti calling. “Hi Yeti, what’s up?” asks Tiffi. “I’m online googling for information for Elsa’s next story.” Yeti cannot keep up with Tiffi’s energy. He won’t even try. He suggests that perhaps they should get together one more time before the summer is over. Tiffi tells him that she’ll check…
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The Pilgrims and the Mayflower Facts
Elsa is ready to start googling again. She grabs a cup of hot coffee and heads over to her computer. ‘Why Did the Pilgrims Come to America? The pilgrims came to America in search of religious freedom. At the time, England required its citizens to belong to the Church of England. People wanted to practice their religious…
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What Was Life Like in Plymouth?
‘In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims…
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The first Thanksgiving
Tiffi decides to check out information on the first Thanksgiving. It doesn’t take her long to find some interesting information. ‘Colonists at the First Thanksgiving Were Mostly Men Because Women Had Perished - The three-day feast was about giving thanks, but it wasn't much like today's holiday. As families around the…
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It was a feast for a young crowd
Tiffi just can’t believe that this is how Thanksgiving started. She continues googling. ‘Just over 50 colonists are believed to have attended, including 22 men, four married women—including Edward Winslow’s wife—and more than 25 children and teenagers. These were the lucky ones who had made it through a rough entry into…
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What did they eat?
‘When the colonists and Native Americans sat down to feast, they probably enjoyed quite different fare than what we’re used to seeing on our Thanksgiving tables today. They may have eaten wild turkey, which Bradford mentions was plentiful in the colony, but it’s not certain even that most ubiquitous of Thanksgiving staples…
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Thanksgiving Traditions and Rituals
In many American households, the Thanksgiving celebration has lost much of its original religious significance; instead, it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. Turkey, a Thanksgiving staple so ubiquitous it has become all but synonymous with the holiday, may or may not have been on…
