The Mayflower

The voyage of the Mayflower has been enshrined in popular culture as the founding myth of the United States of America. This ship carried a group of Puritans to the Massachusetts coast, where they established the colony of Plymouth, aided by the local Wampanoag population, as commemorated by the modern American tradition of Thanksgiving. In just 50 minutes, you will find out what motivated the Pilgrim Fathers to cross the Atlantic, learn about the early challenges faced by the fledgling colony they founded and gain an understanding of the reasons underlying the conflict that soon arose between the colonists and the Native American population.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the events that transpired before and after the Mayflower’s voyage, including the religious turmoil that pervaded Europe and the American Indian Wars. It also features a full biography of the key protagonists, including William Brewster, William Bradford and Massasoit, a valuable introduction to the political, social and religious context and an evaluation of the colony’s success and its impact on relations between colonists and Native Americans, giving you everything you need to understand this legendary voyage.

About the Mayflower

The Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Mayflower in 1620 have passed into legend, becoming a part of the founding myth of the United States of America. The ship’s passengers were mostly Puritans fleeing religious persecution under the reign of James I, as well as a variety of craftsmen. These two factions were often at odds, but they were able to work together to forge a democratic society after signing the Mayflower Compact, which is now seen as a precedent for the freedom enjoyed by the citizens of the United States of America. The colony they established in present-day Massachusetts proved a success, and the first of many more to come.

This clear and accessible 72-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the Mayflower
• Political, social and religious context
  • Religious persecution in England
  • Anglicanism vs. Puritanism
  • Fleeing to the Netherlands
  • Journey to the New World
• Key protagonists
  • The Pilgrims from the Scrooby congregation
  • The “strangers”
  • The Native Americans
• The Mayflower
  • The crossing
  • The Mayflower Compact
  • First contact with the Wampanoag
  • Official meeting and alliance
  • The origins of Thanksgiving
• Impact
  • New colonies
  • King Philip’s War
  • Threats to the Native American population
• Summary