Plymouth

Definition

Plymouth was one of the earliest English settlements established in North America, founded in 1620 by Puritan colonists known as the Pilgrims. It served as the capital of the Plymouth Colony and played a significant role in the early history of English colonization in the region.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pilgrims were a group of English Puritans who sought religious freedom and the opportunity to practice their faith without persecution.
2. The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620, established the Plymouth Colony's system of self-government and rule of law, setting a precedent for later colonial charters.
3. Plymouth Colony played a crucial role in the early history of English colonization in North America, serving as a model for subsequent settlements and influencing the development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
4. The Pilgrims faced numerous challenges in establishing the Plymouth Colony, including harsh weather, lack of resources, and conflicts with the native Wampanoag people, but they ultimately succeeded in creating a thriving community.
5. The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is often traced back to the Pilgrims' celebration of a successful harvest in 1621, which they shared with the Wampanoag people.

Review Questions

• Describe the reasons why the Pilgrims decided to establish the Plymouth Colony in North America.
  • The Pilgrims, a group of English Puritans, sought religious freedom and the opportunity to practice their faith without persecution in their home country. Fleeing religious intolerance, they made the treacherous journey across the Atlantic Ocean and founded the Plymouth Colony in 1620, establishing a new community where they could freely exercise their religious beliefs and build a life for themselves and their families in the New World.
• Explain the significance of the Mayflower Compact and its impact on the governance of the Plymouth Colony.
  • The Mayflower Compact, signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower ship in 1620, was a groundbreaking document that established a system of self-government and rule of law for the Plymouth Colony. This compact set a precedent for later colonial charters and played a crucial role in the development of the colony's political and social structure, laying the foundation for a more democratic and representative form of governance than was typical in the early English settlements of North America.
• Analyze the relationship between the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and how the former influenced the development of the latter.
  • The Plymouth Colony, established in 1620, served as a model for the later Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was founded in 1630. The success of the Plymouth Colony, despite the numerous challenges it faced, demonstrated the viability of English settlement in the region and paved the way for the establishment of the larger and more prosperous Massachusetts Bay Colony. The two colonies maintained close ties, with the Massachusetts Bay Colony eventually absorbing the Plymouth Colony in 1691, further consolidating English control and influence in New England.

Related terms

Pilgrims: The Puritan colonists who founded the Plymouth Colony, fleeing religious persecution in England and seeking to establish a new life in the New World.

Mayflower Compact: The first governing document of the Plymouth Colony, signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower ship, which established a system of self-government and rule of law.

Plymouth Colony: The first permanent English settlement in New England, established by the Pilgrims in 1620 and lasting until it was absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.