Download - Thanksgiving: the Rest of the Story
Why Thanksgiving?
ThanksgivingNovember 28, 2013
David W. Humphrey
Information source: Wikipedia
Why Thanksgiving?In school, they teach us the 3rd grade version of Thanksgiving.
Now it’s time for the rest of the story…
The World in 1620In England• Church = state• Religious unrest in England and persecution of
dissenters• Puritans were members of the Church, but
sought to reform it (settled Boston in 1629)• Separatists believed Church of England was
corrupt and wanted to worship separately• Some separatists fled to Leyden (NL) for
religious freedom
In the New World• Jamestowne settlement (Virginia) 1607• New Amsterdam (Dutch) 1609 1603:
King James I of EnglandKing James VI of ScotsClaimed King of France
What motivated the Pilgrims?Why colonize the New World?• Separatists first emigrate to Leyden (NL) for
religious tolerance, but worry about future of their settlement.
• 1618: Petition the King for a “patent” to settle “northern Virginia” - mouth of Hudson River close to tolerant Dutch settlements.
• 1620: Virginia Company, “merchant adventurers” finance voyage and new settlement with the goal of finding and importing gold, silver, animal skins to England.
The Journey to the New World
London investors finance the 1620 voyage• May: Speedwell sails with Separatists from
Leyden to South Hampton, joined there by investors and London recruits on Mayflower
• Speedwell abandoned in Plymouth, England due to leaks
• August: Mayflower continues alone with 35 Separatists & 67 non-Separatist Londoners
• Remaining Separatists return to Leyden
Destination: Mouth of the Hudson River
Why Plymouth?
Landing in the New World• November 11: Anchor in
Provincetown (Cape Cod)• December: Continue to mainland,
land at Plymouth Rock• Decision to remain here instead
of continuing to Hudson River• Aboard ship signing of the
Mayflower Compact – legal structure for Plymouth Colony until 1691
Provincetown
Kennedys
Barrington
1630
“Plimouth” Plantation
Establishing the colony• Mayflower remains through first winter.
Colonists sleep aboard while Common House is built.
• February 1621: Horrible conditions. Half the colony (50 people) dies of sickness or starvation.
• April 1621: Mayflower returns to England with small cargo of beaver skins and sassafras.
“Plimouth” Plantation
Meeting the natives• Occasional contact with friendly
natives, but also attacks.• February 1621: Samoset, English-
speaking native, walks into settlement with words of “welcome!”
• Gradually more contact to Squanto, Massasoit, chief of Wampanoag tribe
• Alliance of settlers with Wampanoag against other tribes (Narragansett)
The First Thanksgiving
First successes• Summer 1621: successful harvest• November: Fortune arrives with 35 new
settlers• Massasoit’s visit with 90 men coincides
with colony’s harvest feast
First Thanksgiving attended by 53 settlers and 90 natives!
“And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they took many…” -- William Bradford
AftermathThe colony grows• 1622: Additional settlers arrive on the
Anne and Little James• 1623: Most of original Leyden
congregation makes it to Plymouth • 1624: 180 settlers in Plymouth, 32
houses plus Common House
• 1668: Thanksgiving becomes an annual festival in the colonies
• 1789: George Washington proclaims first nation Thanksgiving celebration
• 1863: President Abraham Lincoln establishes Thanksgiving as national holiday
Plimoth Village
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Glossary
Plimouth PlantationNausetThe MayflowerThe SpeedwellMiles StandishMassasoitPilgrim FathersPlymouth Rock
The Mayflower CompactThievish HarborKing James IBermudaStephen HopkinsWampanoagSquanto
Plymouth RockNarragansettWilliam BradfordSamosetThe SeparatistsSagamoreNew Amsterdam“Adventure” capitalJamestowneProvincetown