Curious question! The Pilgrims were a specific group of English people in the early 1600s who left England to practice their religion freely. In 1620 they sailed to America on a ship called the Mayflower and started Plymouth Colony in what is now Massachusetts.
Who were they and why did they travel?
They were not the only people coming to America at the time, but they sought religious freedom and a chance to build their own community.
The Mayflower voyage
The voyage began in September 1620 and took about two months across the Atlantic. The settlers faced rough seas and harsh weather before landing at Plymouth Rock in November 1620.
Making rules and living in a new land
Before leaving the ship, they signed the Mayflower Compact to set up rules for fair self-government in their new settlement.
With Native Americans
They met the Wampanoag people. A Native man named Squanto helped them learn how to grow corn, hunt, and fish, which helped the settlers survive.
Thanksgiving story
In 1621, after a good harvest, the Pilgrims celebrated with the Wampanoag in a harvest feast that is often remembered as a forerunner to Thanksgiving.
Key ideas to remember
- The Pilgrims were early settlers who came for religious reasons.
- They founded Plymouth Colony in 1620.
- The Mayflower Compact was an early self-government agreement.
- Interactions with Native Americans helped the colony survive, leading to the Thanksgiving idea in American history.