The arrival of the Pilgrims to the shores of the future United States of America has been viewed as a turning point in the history of the U.S. Although the colony established by the Pilgrims was not the first or the largest on the land of the New World, it played a considerable role in the history of the country and became a significant part of American popular culture. This essay will discuss a Wikipedia entry dedicated to Pilgrims and reflect on who the Pilgrims were, the reasons behind their journey to the New World, their voyage, and their arrival to America.
The word Pilgrims has gained a special meaning in the history of the United States and is associated with the birth of the country and its most significant holiday – Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims were a group of English settlers who separated from the Church of England in 1605 and decided to seek religious freedom in the New World.1 As a separatist and a purist faction, the Pilgrims believed the Church to be unaccepting of their beliefs and refused to attend its services, which was illegal in England at the time.2 Their goal was to find a homeland where they could follow the tenets of their religion without fearing persecution and ostracization from society. After a brief period of respite in the Netherlands, the Pilgrims determined to sail for the New World to preserve their culture and language and prevent assimilation into the Dutch community. The potential for missionary work and the opportunity to spread the word of God among the native tribes of the continent was another goal of the Pilgrims. Thus, they aimed to preserve the purity of their faith, obtain religious freedom, and introduce the Native Americans to God.
The Pilgrims had to make a perilous journey to reach the North American continent. Despite their more than a decade-long residence in the Netherlands, the group decided to first travel to England and depart from there. Initially, the Pilgrims planned to travel on two ships: the vessel Speedwell, which brought them to Southampton, England, and Mayflower, which joined them at the English port. However, due to leakage that threatened the safety of the crew and passengers, it was decided to move aboard Mayflower, with the Pilgrims departing from Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. The voyage lasted two months, with the group arriving at the coast of Cape Cod in November 1620, abandoning the initial plan to land at the mouth of the Hudson River and settling in Provincetown Harbor. Overall, despite the Pilgrims’ initial plans for departure and landing collapsing, they arrived at their destination and contributed to the formation and growth of the United States of America.
An interesting detail of the Pilgrim journey is the signing of the Mayflower Compact or the Agreement Between the Settlers of New Plymouth. The settlers were worried about the control the Crown of England could have over them in the new land. As the original plan to settle in Virginia territory was abandoned, a part of the Pilgrims, specifically those who were not purists, proposed the establishment of a new government. Thus, before the Pilgrims stepped foot on the shores of their new homeland, the Mayflower Compact had signed onboard Mayflower, pledging allegiance to the Crown but forming a new governing system based on a majoritarian model. The compact was signed exclusively by the male passengers of the Mayflower. Although the agreement promised allegiance to the King, it established the foundation of liberty upon which the colony was built. In addition, it can be suggested that the signing of the compact was a binding act that ensured the rules of the small community were followed, contributing eventually to the success of the Plymouth Colony.
The Pilgrims did not immediately settle on the new territory after their arrival in North America. The exploration of the shore and the search for a safe place to establish a settlement took the travelers over a month, with them disembarking in Plymouth on December 19, 1620. Due to many settlers becoming sought during the voyage, only 47 persons out of over a hundred survived by March 1621. Later, the Pilgrims reached peace with the local Wampanoag tribe, ensuring the site was safe for them to remain. It can be argued that the decreased numbers of settlers contributed to the people of the Plymouth settlement opting to establish a diplomatic relationship with the Native American tribe. The colony quickly grew due to more ships arriving at Plymouth with people and resources, ensuring that the first colony in the region was a triumph.
In summary, the story of the Pilgrims settling in Plymouth is an integral part of the history of the United States. The group fought for religious freedom, choosing to undertake a perilous voyage to the New World to gain independence from the Church of England. Despite many difficulties encountered on the way, including the change of vessels and the landing spot, the poor health of the settlers, and conflicts with the local tribes, the Plymouth Colony was successfully founded.
Works Cited
“Mayflower Compact.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2021, Web.
“Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony).” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2021, Web.
“Plymouth Colony.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2021, Web.
Footnotes
- “Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony),” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2021, Web.
- “Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony),” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2021, Web.