History Essay
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History
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by PresidentHeron3830
1
The
Pilgrims
SFC Bobby G. Parish Jr.
History 101-American History Before 1877
Professor
Caroline Reucha
15 September 2023
2
The
Pilgrims
The Pilgrims came to the New World looking for religious freedom. Who were they? Why did
the leaving the relative safety of England? Were they alone in this search for a place to worship
as they wanted? How successful was their goal to establish a colony where they could exercise
the freedom of religion they ultimately wanted.
Who Were They
The Pilgrims journey began many years before coming to America. In the late 1500’s and into
the early 1600’s there was dissension within the Church of England. Groups had various issues
with the church and facing discrimination the Separatists decided to leave England for Holland in
1608.
The Separatists was the term given to groups who dissented with the church. Puritans
were another group similar but not the same as the Pilgrims. The main difference was that the
Pilgrims wanted to have a complete break between church and state, whereas the Puritans
wanted to reform the church from within.
After a few years in the Pilgrims decided the atmosphere in Holland was a little too cosmopolitan
and decided to look for support to move to the New World. After getting organized back in
England a prominent merchant agreed to advance them the money to establish a colony. The
Group had 7 years to repay the loan. The Virginia Company gave them permission to land on the
East Coast between 38- and 41-degrees north latitude. This would put them between the
Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River approximately.
Mission
August 1620 the group set sail in 2 boats the Mayflower and the Speedwell. Almost immediately
the Speedwell and issues and had to turn back so all 102 passengers and 30 crew boarded the
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Mayflower for the journey. The trip was at the worst time of the year. 66 days later the ship
reached the east coast of America. They figured out the storms had pushed them off course and
they were far north of where the had intended to land at about 42 degrees north latitude. Before
the landing in Plymouth, the Mayflower Compact was drafted. William Bradford leader of the
Pilgrims was worried about the settlers not adhering to some common rules. On 11 Nov 1620 the
document was signed by 41 men on the ship. The signers pledged to
“covenant and combine
ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, 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.”
www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/869/mayflower-
compact
This is the real lasting effect of the Pilgrims mission to found a colony and practice their
religion as they saw fit. It remained in effect for many years afterward.
Many of the settlers died the first winter of various illnesses before the colony got onto a more
solid footing. Thanksgiving is another popular notion credited to the Pilgrims. They did have a
feast that lasted for 3 days with some of the native Indians who they positive relations with.
More than half of the women who had begun the voyage didn’t survive to see this first
Thanksgiving. Through the efforts of the natives and a lot of luck the colony would become self-
sufficient within five years of its founding.
Conclusion
Though more than 40 of the original 102 people who boarded the Mayflower died the first
winter, the ideals that they had to establish a colony and religious freedom did not. Plymouth
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never became a large thriving economy but it does survive to this day. The Mayflower Compact
became the basis for government for many years afterwards. The document was a true step
forward as too putting the ideals of religious freedom to paper. Its shortcoming was that it had no
real enforcement mechanism. Overall, I believe the Pilgrims accomplished what they had set out
to do. A success that can be seen in the descendants still to this day. Descendants of the Pilgrims
went onto become Supreme Court Justices, world famous chef’s and creators of the Webster’s
Dictionary. A successful mission that has stood the test of time, 400 years’ worth and counting.
Sources
:
A&E Television Networks. (n.d.).
The Mayflower
. History.com.
http://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower
Bradford, W. (2019).
Of Plymouth Plantation
. Zweihander Press.
Vile
, J. R. (n.d.).
Mayflower
Compact
http://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/869/mayflower-compact