The Piligrims

The Pilgrims were puritans, that is to say, people of England who objected to the form of religious feelings shown to God and religious services used in the Church of England. King James punished all who refused to follow laws and traditions of the Church of England and to give money to support it. These people had to leave their country and went to Holland trying to find religious freedom there. But they were not allowed to own land in Holland and, besides, they did not want their children to grow up and become Dutchspeaking people. They wanted to remain English; so, they soon returned to England with the idea of leaving for America. There, where the lands were still wild, they hoped to build homes for themselves and start a new life based on their own ideals of religious and civil rights. Pilgrim Fathers decided to form a colony that should be governed by just and equal laws, established by common agreement.

With the idea of a new England in America some of the strongest English people crossed the broad Atlantic on the little ship known as "The Mayflower". These people were independent and God-fearing. Some of them were also learned.

The departure of the Pilgrims from England marks a period in history.

Towards the end of November in 1620, this company of about a hundred persons, with Captain Miles Standish as their leader, landed on Cape Cod, not far from where Boston now is.

A short time after landing, they found a suitable place to live and, about Christmas, began to cut trees and build houses. Winter came on, and they were not prepared for difficult times. Many of them got ill and about half of them died. But those who survived did not give up; they were not easily discouraged by the difficulties.

In the spring and summer following that hard winter, their crops grew, and the colony became rich. They made friends with the Indians and were not afraid of them. At last, they felt sure that they had found the land that they had hoped to find so long. In the autumn, they decided to have a great holiday and to unite in giving thanks to God for everything they had received. They also invited the Indians, and all sat down together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving Day in America.

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