Social Studies Chapter 5, Lesson 3 The Plymouth Colony The Pilgrim Voyage King Henry VIII of England left the Roman Catholic Church and set up the Church of England. King Henry VIII punished anyone who did not attend the church he had established. The Pilgrims did not like the rules of the church, so they established their own church. King James I allowed the Pilgrims to settle in Virginia, so they could worship in peace. The London Company paid for their voyage. The pilgrims agreed to pay the company back in lumber and furs. On Board the Mayflower The Pilgrims sailed from Plymouth, England, in September 1620 on the Mayflower. The tiny ship carried 100 people, barrels of bread, salted meat, pigs, chickens, and goats. They landed on Cape Cod in what is now part of New England. A Difficult Winter The Pilgrims write a compact before they left the Mayflower. compact – an agreement The Mayflower Compact was a form of government for the new colony. The Pilgrims agreed to obey all the laws of the colony. Only men signed the compact. Native American Neighbors The Wampanoag Indians lived in the area where the Pilgrims landed. They hunted, farmed, and fished along the coast. sachem- a leader of the Native Americans The sachem of the Wampanoag was Massasoit. Massasoit, Squanto, and Samoset were Wampanoag sachems that saved the Pilgrims’ lives in their first years in New England. The Plymouth Colony The Pilgrims settled in Plymouth. They called their settlement Plymouth Plantations. The first winter many Pilgrims died from disease. The Pilgrims elected Bradford as their new leader. Help Arrives In the spring the Pilgrims began to plant crops. The Pilgrims welcomed Massasoit, Squanto, and Samoset. Massasoit agreed to form a peace treaty with the English because he believed that they would help him against his enemies. Squanto decided to stay on the land with the Pilgrims. He showed them how to plant corn and hunt animals. The Pilgrims began to eat better, and the sickness they experienced during the harsh winter ended. Thanksgiving The Pilgrims had built a colony by autumn. Governor Bradford noticed they started to gather a small harvest from the crops they had planted. The Pilgrims invited Massasoit and 90 of his followers to join them for a great feast to celebrate and give thanks to God for their good fortune. This was known as the first Thanksgiving. A Happy Feast The English and the Wampanoag guests for 3 days. Both groups brought food and showed off their skills. There are similarities and differences between the customs of the English and Wampanoag. They both brought food and showed off their skills. Some differences were the Native Americans and the Pilgrims used different weapons. The Native Americans performed ceremonial dances and sat on the ground to eat. The Pilgrims probably sat on stools at a table. .