Page 24 - All About History - Issue 29-15

USA

Day in the life

APILGRIMFATHER

EARLY PIONEERS MAKING A FRESH

START IN THE NEW WORLD, PLYMOUTH

COLONY, UNITED STATES, 17TH CENTURY

The Plymouth Colony was not the first English colonial venture in
North America, and it certainly wasn’t the most successful, but to this
day it occupies a special part of American history. What made the
colony different is that instead of the entrepreneurs that wished
to make their fortune in colonies like Jamestown, the Plymouth
settlers were fleeing religious persecution in England, seeking
a place they could be free to practise their faith. They made
the dangerous voyage from Plymouth, England, to North
America, but once they stepped foot on land, they
faced a difficult and dangerous struggle to
create the home they dreamed of.
BUILD LODGINGS

Once ashore, the colony decided to settle in a
village that was previously abandoned due to a
plague. Thanks to this outbreak, the colonists faced
no resistance from the weakened natives when
settling and constructing their houses. In order to
reduce the number of houses needed, single men
lived with families in a plot one-half rod wide and
three rods long for each household member.
NEGOTIATE WITH LOCALS

The Plymouth fathers had a tumultuous
relationship with the native tribes. The pilgrims
initially received a hostile welcome from natives
with previously bad experiences of Englishmen.
However, a Native American that spoke some
English named Samoset made contact with the
colonists. Through Samoset they met the chief
of the tribe – Massasoit – and also Squanto, who
would prove indispensable to their survival. The
Native Americans and pilgrims were both eager
for mutual peace and established a trading pact.

WORK ON THE FARM

Each colonist received 100 acres of land, and
there was a further 1,500 acres for common
use. These small family farms helped maintain
the economy. The settlers learned many farming
techniques from the Native Americans, such as John Carver served as
fertilising the soil with dead fish. The fields were the first governor of the
full of a variety of crops and by 1624, the colony Plymouth Colony
was self-sufficient in its food production.
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