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The Plymouth Colony. Persecution in England. Under King Henry VIII, the Church of England was very intolerant of some religious beliefs A group of people wanted to separate from the Church of England, they are called the Separatists
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Persecution in England • Under King Henry VIII, the Church of England was very intolerant of some religious beliefs • A group of people wanted to separate from the Church of England, they are called the Separatists • Between 1607 and 1609, many Separatists settle in the Netherlands
Separatists Leave for North America • In 1620, a group of Separatists leave the Netherlands seeking more religious freedom • Today, these people are called the Pilgrims
Plymouth • In September 1620, 100 Pilgrims sailed for Virginia aboard a ship called Mayflower • A storm blew them off course and they ended up in modern day Massachusetts • They called their home Plymouth, after a port city in England
The Mayflower Compact • Since the Pilgrims were not under the control of the Virginia Company, they created new rules • Before going ashore, 41 adult men signed and created the Mayflower Compact, which called for a government and “just and equal laws” • Along with the House of Burgesses, the Mayflower Compact is a second step towards self-government in the colonies • The Mayflower Compact was the first document where colonists claimed to rule themselves
The First Thanksgiving • The Pilgrims first winter was very difficult, half of the colonists will die • Local Native American tribes assist the Pilgrims and teach them to farm corn • The Pilgrims set aside a day of thanks • Today’s Thanksgiving holiday is born