The Pilgrims Set Sail & Settle Early America
Belief: Exploring in hopes of a new beginning.
The New World – early America – was the only place that offered the Pilgrims what they wanted, which was the freedom to live and practice their faith as they wished. The Pilgrims finally decided to make the long journey to America. They had faith in each other and faith that the journey would lead them to a New World. Faith helped the Pilgrims form new communities, which grew into colonies, which grew into America.
The Pilgrims were committed to their faith but the New World brought challenges that tested this faith each and every day.
The Pilgrims needed faith, and lots of it, if they would get to the New World safely. They had very little knowledge of the New World and many were ill-prepared for life on the Mayflower, but their faith was steadfast. In the Autumn of 1620, 102 people took a ‘leap of faith’ and set sail on the Mayflower.
Deciding to leave Holland for the New World was the easy part, but organizing and planning for the trip turned out to be a challenge. A London company helped the Pilgrims pay for their voyage to America, but they had to agree to take some additional people. The Pilgrims and about 60 passengers would make the journey on the Mayflower, and these additional passengers helped offset the cost of food and supplies.
Faith is an idea we often use in the absence of reason (or logic). That is to say, when something happens that may not make sense. This was an important idea for the Pilgrims.
The Pilgrims had permission to land and settle near the Jamestown colony, but the ocean had other ideas. When the Mayflower turned south to reach their destination, it was met with shallow waters, and a great storm came up, causing them to almost tip over and sink. The crew knew they had a decision to make. They either needed to head back out to deeper waters where it was safer or risk not making their trip at all by attempting landfall in the storms. They moved to deeper water and the storm blew them much farther North. When they finally reached land, they were just off the coast of Massachusetts.
November, 1620.
The Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in the present-day state of Massachusetts.
The Mayflower passengers called this land the “New World.” The Pilgrims’ voyage was over, and their faith had been rewarded, but it would be tested time and time again. Nevertheless, the Pilgrims – now called, “colonists” had the freedom, or liberty, to live as they wanted and practice their faith as they wanted. Plymouth would become the second English colony established in America, with the first being Jamestown in the present-day state of Virginia.
Each Pilgrim brought gifts and talents to the New World. Many of these gifts were the ones they had learned while they lived in Holland. Each gift and talent was necessary for starting a new home together in the New World. The Pilgrims had faith that what they had learned would help them survive.
It was important for the Pilgrims to establish their community quickly. Community and togetherness are important elements of faith, both of which kept them going even during difficult times. Even though the Pilgrims were different, part of coming to the New World meant valuing those differences. All the Pilgrims were important for success in Plymouth, and their differences made it possible for them to peacefully build a new life centered on faith.
“The Pilgrims were very spiritual. They sailed across a vast and dangerous ocean to a wilderness where, against impossible odds, they had made a home.”
– Nathaniel Philbrick
