The Pilgrims: A Captivating Guide to the Passengers on Board the Mayflower Who Founded the Plymouth Colony and Their Relationship with the Native Americans ...

by Captivating History

Did you know that Plymouth was named by the explorer John Smith in 1608?Twelve years later, in 1620, the Pilgrims started their journey from Plymouth, England, and were blown off course, landing in Plymouth, North America. As if it was a sign from God, the Pilgrims decided not to continue their journey but to settle right where they landed, starting one of the earliest American communities.This book traces the journey of the Pilgrims before the Mayflower even set sail. To understand what drove the Pilgrims into a form of self-exile, one must look further back to when King Henry VIII of England ruled. Religion was very important to the American settlers, and when they were not allowed to practice it the way they wanted, the Separatists emerged, demanding their religious rights and freedoms.England wasn’t ready to allow the Separatists the freedoms for which they asked, and they started thinking about leaving. Holland was a natural choice because it was one of the rare countries in Europe that allowed religious practice, at least in the way the Separatists saw as suitable. But even there, this religious community didn’t find what they were looking for. They remained there for only a decade and decided to move once more. It was then that they realized they were Pilgrims. They were travelers in search of their holy place, a land they could call home and shape it to their needs. At that time, the American continent was being explored, and it called to all those who needed a new life, a new adventure, and new opportunities. The Pilgrims rushed to the New World only to discover it wasn’t so new, as there were native cultures there who were more or less willing to share their world with strangers.Read The Pilgrims and find How did the Separatists come to beWhat was their life in Leiden likeThe Mayflower’s journey across the oceanHow did the Pilgrims survive the first winterHow Squanto, a Native American, deserved the Pilgrims’ respect and friendshipThe origins of ThanksgivingHow the Native Americans accepted the settlersHow the Puritans joined the PilgrimsWhat the great wars against the Native Americans were likeHow religious intolerance among the early settlers almost destroyed themAnd much moreSo if you want to learn more about the Pilgrims, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!

Genres: History, Nonfiction

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2021

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I have a problem keeping the Pilgrims clear from the Puritans. In order to keep them straight, I made up a list. Note, the groups were the opposite of each other in many ways.

PILGRIMS --
A few came to America,
Poor class & soldiers, generally uneducated,
Wanted to separate from the Church of England,
Came over in one ship (Mayflower),
A good relationship with Native Americans and traded food for furs.
Mayflower Compact -- All men participate in majority rule.Had town meetings to discuss issues.
Eventually moved from communal property to individual properties. Food then became abundant.

PURITANS --
Many came to America,
Upper middle class, educated,
Wanted to 'purify' the Church of England (not separate from it, like the Pilgrims),
Came over in multiple ships,
A poor relationship with Native Americans; Puritans thought they should be killed.
Only Puritan ministers could make rules, based on the Bible.
Strict rules and harsh punishments.
Oliver Cromwell was a Puritan.

It was interesting to learn that the French were the first to sell guns to the Indians. Before long, the Indians had more weapons than the Pilgrims. Another interesting insight was the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635. Because of the extensive damage, famine again raised its ugly head in the Colonies.

Using the legend above helped me keep the groups separate in my mind (because by page 70), the Puritans were flooding into the area already inhabited by the Pilgrims. And the Pilgrims weren't pleased about it.

This book makes a point that the Virginia colonies, the loyalists, and the Quakers had more influence on what America is today (rather than the Pilgrims or even the Puritans). The Puritans worked for their church and community (not themselves). However, in only one century, the Puritans moved to individual ownership. Early Americans valued free choice and voluntary consent. That ideology continues to this day.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very broad overview of the colonization of Massachusetts and the early years of settlement. It is written in an easy-to-read manner, though with a few editing issues (James II's daughter is Mary and not Marry). There were no footnotes or citations, except for a few that were clearly from wikipedia. I knew enough about this timeframe that I didn't really learn anything new, but this short book might be a good read for younger readers or those with little exposure to this era of US history.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally enjoyed this read! Everyone knows Mayflower and Plymouth but not how the people were aboard the ship. They didn't know about the life in England that was occurring in the royal family of King Henry. These were just a few of the sections of this ebook that I enjoyed. It gave the reader more insight into these peoples lives and how they had to live aboard the ships. If you enjoy this part of history or anything to do with related topics then you will enjoy this book!

[Vince Pillig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly more information that I learned in school!

Interesting! Speaking of the different religious groups and different denominations as well as the persecution of different groups.
Also covered much information about Indians and their culture as well as them trading. Much more detail that I ever learned in school for sure.

[chris hoban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview

Great read and historical overview of the pilgrims. Good presentation that provides the root cause of such audacious actions into the unknown, as shown by the pilgrims and other groups, seeking religious freedom. The book also provides good references for those who want to know more. History buffs and casual readers alike will enjoy this book.

[Jon Christenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother. Found factual errors without reading very far in

[Matthew Ewoldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has broadened my knowledge of the Pilgrims, the Puritans and an overlooked but very important time in our nation's past. This is a book that should be read by all of those whose image of our nation is one of intolerance and bigotry. Only by looking at the past can we see the myriad ways that our country has become a beacon that draws thousands from around the world.