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'''Plymouth Colony''', founded in 1620 in what is now [[Massachusetts]], was an early English colony in New England. It was founded by "Pilgrims", who were members of a [[Puritan]] religious group known as the Separatists. It is most famous for introducing [[Thanksgiving]] and, more important, introducing self government into America through the "Mayflower Compact," signed aboard their ship, the Mayflower.  Plymouth Colony later merged with the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] to form the colony of [[Massachusetts]].

'''Plymouth Colony''', founded in 1620 in what is now [[Massachusetts]], was an early English colony in New England. It was founded by "Pilgrims", who were members of a [[Puritan]] religious group known as the Separatists. It is most famous for introducing [[Thanksgiving]] and, more important, introducing self-government into America through the "Mayflower Compact," signed aboard their ship, the Mayflower.  Plymouth Colony later merged with the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] to form the colony of [[Massachusetts]].

[[Image:Hubbard map 1677.jpg|thumb|right|1677 map of New England by William Hubbard showing the location of Plymouth Colony.  The map is oriented with west at the top.]]'''Plymouth Colony''' (officially '''New Plymouth Colony'''; sometimes called '''The Old Colony''') was an English colony in North America from 1620 until 1691, when it was absorbed by its much larger neighbor, Massachusetts.  At its height, the colony occupied most of the southeastern portion of the modern state of [[Massachusetts]].  

[[Image:Hubbard map 1677.jpg|thumb|right|1677 map of New England by William Hubbard showing the location of Plymouth Colony.  The map is oriented with west at the top.]]'''Plymouth Colony''' (officially '''New Plymouth Colony'''; sometimes called '''The Old Colony''') was an English colony in North America from 1620 until 1691, when it was absorbed by its much larger neighbor, Massachusetts.  At its height, the colony occupied most of the southeastern portion of the modern state of [[Massachusetts]].  

The ''Mayflower'' anchored at [[Provincetown Harbor]] on [[November 11]], [[1620]].  The Pilgrims did not have a patent to settle this area, and thus some passengers began to question their right to land; they complained that there was no legal authority to establish a colony.  In response to this, a group of colonists, still aboard the ship as it lay off-shore, drafted and ratified the first governing document of the colony, the [[Mayflower Compact]], the intent of which was to establish a means of governing the colony.  Though it did little more than confirm that the colony would be governed like any English town, it did serve the purpose of relieving the concerns of many of the settlers.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 41</ref>

The ''Mayflower'' anchored at [[Provincetown Harbor]] on [[November 11]], [[1620]].  The Pilgrims did not have a patent to settle this area, and thus some passengers began to question their right to land; they complained that there was no legal authority to establish a colony.  In response to this, a group of colonists, still aboard the ship as it lay off-shore, drafted and ratified the first governing document of the colony, the [[Mayflower Compact]], the intent of which was to establish a means of governing the colony.  Though it did little more than confirm that the colony would be governed like any English town, it did serve the purpose of relieving the concerns of many of the settlers.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 41</ref>

The group remained onboard the ship through the next day, a Sunday, for prayer and worship.  The immigrants finally set foot on land at what would become [[Provincetown]] on November 13.  The first task was to rebuild a shallop, a shallow draft boat that had been built in England and disassembled for transport aboard the ''Mayflower''.  It remained with the Pilgrims while the ''Mayflower'' returned to England.  The ''Mayflower'' left Provincetown Harbor and set sail for [[Plymouth Harbor]].<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 55-77</ref>

The group remained on board the ship through the next day, a Sunday, for prayer and worship.  The immigrants finally set foot on land at what would become [[Provincetown]] on November 13.  The first task was to rebuild a shallop, a shallow draft boat that had been built in England and disassembled for transport aboard the ''Mayflower''.  It remained with the Pilgrims while the ''Mayflower'' returned to England.  The ''Mayflower'' left Provincetown Harbor and set sail for [[Plymouth Harbor]].<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 55-77</ref>

The colonists dropped anchor in Plymouth Harbor on December 17 and spent three days surveying for a settlement site.  They rejected several sites in favor of the site of an abandoned Native-American settlement named Patuxet. The location was chosen largely for its defensive position; the settlement would be centered on two hills: Cole's Hill, where the village would be built, and Fort Hill, where a defensive cannon would be stationed.  Also important in choosing the site, the prior Indian villagers had cleared much of the land, making agriculture relatively easy.  Although there are no contemporary accounts to verify the legend, [[Plymouth Rock]] is often hailed as the point where the colonists first set foot on their new homeland.<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 78-80</ref>

The colonists dropped anchor in Plymouth Harbor on December 17 and spent three days surveying for a settlement site.  They rejected several sites in favor of the site of an abandoned Native-American settlement named Patuxet. The location was chosen largely for its defensive position; the settlement would be centered on two hills: Cole's Hill, where the village would be built, and Fort Hill, where a defensive cannon would be stationed.  Also important in choosing the site, the prior Indian villagers had cleared much of the land, making agriculture relatively easy.  Although there are no contemporary accounts to verify the legend, [[Plymouth Rock]] is often hailed as the point where the colonists first set foot on their new homeland.<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 78-80</ref>

Samoset returned to Plymouth on [[March 22]] with a delegation from Massasoit that included Squanto; Massasoit himself joined them shortly thereafter.  After an exchange of gifts, Massasoit and Governor Martin established a formal treaty of peace, which among other promises, ensured that each people would not bring harm to the other, that Massasoit would send his allies to make peaceful negotiations with Plymouth, and that they would come to each other's aid in a time of war.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 97-99</ref>

Samoset returned to Plymouth on [[March 22]] with a delegation from Massasoit that included Squanto; Massasoit himself joined them shortly thereafter.  After an exchange of gifts, Massasoit and Governor Martin established a formal treaty of peace, which among other promises, ensured that each people would not bring harm to the other, that Massasoit would send his allies to make peaceful negotiations with Plymouth, and that they would come to each other's aid in a time of war.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 97-99</ref>

On April ], 1621, after being anchored for almost four months in Plymouth Harbour, the ''Mayflower'' set sail for England.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 100-101</ref>  Nearly half of the original 102 passengers died during the first winter.<ref>Addison (1911), pp 83-85</ref> As William Bradford wrote, "of these one hundred persons who came over in this first ship together, the greatest half died in the general mortality, and most of them in two or three months' time".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://etext.virginia.edu/users/deetz/Plymouth/Maydeaths.html | title=Mayflower Passenger Deaths, 1620-1621 | author=Patricia Scott Deetz | coauthors=James F. Deetz | work=The Plymouth Colony Archive Project | year=2000 | accessdate=2007-04-19}}</ref>  Several of the graves on Cole's Hill were uncovered in 1855; their bodies were disinterred and moved to a site near Plymouth Rock.<ref>Addison (1911), pp 83</ref>

In April, 1621, after being anchored for almost four months in Plymouth Harbour, the ''Mayflower'' set sail for England.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 100-101</ref>  Nearly half of the original 102 passengers died during the first winter.<ref>Addison (1911), pp 83-85</ref> As William Bradford wrote, "of these one hundred persons who came over in this first ship together, the greatest half died in the general mortality, and most of them in two or three months' time".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://etext.virginia.edu/users/deetz/Plymouth/Maydeaths.html | title=Mayflower Passenger Deaths, 1620-1621 | author=Patricia Scott Deetz | coauthors=James F. Deetz | work=The Plymouth Colony Archive Project | year=2000 | accessdate=2007-04-19}}</ref>  Several of the graves on Cole's Hill were uncovered in 1855; their bodies were disinterred and moved to a site near Plymouth Rock.<ref>Addison (1911), pp 83</ref>

===Early relations with the Native Americans===

===Early relations with the Native Americans===

The name "Pilgrims" was actually not used by the Separatists themselves.  Though William Bradford used the term "pilgrims" to describe the group, he was using the term generically, to define the group as travelers on a religious mission.  The term used by the people we now call the Pilgrims to define themselves was the "Saints".<ref>Deetz and Deetz (2000), pp 14</ref>

The name "Pilgrims" was actually not used by the Separatists themselves.  Though William Bradford used the term "pilgrims" to describe the group, he was using the term generically, to define the group as travelers on a religious mission.  The term used by the people we now call the Pilgrims to define themselves was the "Saints".<ref>Deetz and Deetz (2000), pp 14</ref>

Besides the Pilgrims, or "Saints", the rest of the ''Mayflower'' settlers were known as the "Strangers".  This group included the non-Pilgrim settlers placed on the ''Mayflower'' by the Merchant Adventurers, as well as later settlers who would come for a host of reasons throughout the history of the colony, and who did not necessarily adhere to the Pilgrim religious ideal.</ref>.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 21-23</ref>  A third group, known as the "Particulars", consisted of a group of later settlers that paid their own "particular" way to America, and thus were not part of the collective responsibility to pay the colony's debts.<ref>Demos (1970), pp 6</ref>  The presence of the Strangers and the Particulars was a considerable annoyance to the Pilgrims, and would continue to be for many years to come.  As early as 1623, a conflict between the two groups broke out over the celebration of Christmas, a day the Pilgrims attached no particular significance.  As well, when a group of Strangers arrived to found the nearby settlement of Wessagusset, the Pilgrims were highly strained, both emotionally and in terms of resources, by the perceived lack of discipline that they displayed.  They looked at the eventual failure of the Wessagusset settlement as Divine Providence against a sinful people.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 128, 151-154</ref>

Besides the Puritains, or "Saints", the rest of the ''Mayflower'' pilgrims were known as the "Strangers".  This group included the non-Pilgrim settlers placed on the ''Mayflower'' by the Merchant Adventurers, as well as later settlers who would come for a host of reasons throughout the history of the colony, and who did not necessarily adhere to the Puritain religious ideal.</ref>.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 21-23</ref>  A third group, known as the "Particulars", consisted of a group of later settlers that paid their own "particular" way to America, and thus were not part of the collective responsibility to pay the colony's debts.<ref>Demos (1970), pp 6</ref>  The presence of the Strangers and the Particulars was a considerable annoyance to the Pilgrims, and would continue to be for many years to come.  As early as 1623, a conflict between the two groups broke out over the celebration of Christmas, a day the Pilgrims attached no particular significance.  As well, when a group of Strangers arrived to found the nearby settlement of Wessagusset, the Pilgrims were highly strained, both emotionally and in terms of resources, by the perceived lack of discipline that they displayed.  They looked at the eventual failure of the Wessagusset settlement as Divine Providence against a sinful people.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 128, 151-154</ref>

The first generation of settlers, generally thought to be those that arrived before 1627, called themselves the "Old Comers" or "Planters".  Later generations of Plymouth residents would refer to this group as the "Forefathers".<ref>Deetz and Deetz (2000), pp 14 and endnotes</ref>

The first generation of settlers, generally thought to be those that arrived before 1627, called themselves the "Old Comers" or "Planters".  Later generations of Plymouth residents would refer to this group as the "Forefathers".<ref>Deetz and Deetz (2000), pp 14 and endnotes</ref>

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

Despite its short history, less than 72 years, the events surrounding the founding and history of Plymouth Colony have had a lasting effect on the art, traditions, and self identity of America.  When Chrysler was looking for a name for its democratic low-cost automobile, it chose ''Plymouth.''

Despite its short history, less than 72 years, the events surrounding the founding and history of Plymouth Colony have had a lasting effect on the art, traditions, and self-identity of America.  When Chrysler was looking for a name for its democratic low-cost automobile, it chose ''Plymouth.''

Samuel Eliot Morison asked why American have paid so much attention to little Plymouth. He answered:  

Samuel Eliot Morison asked why American have paid so much attention to little Plymouth. He answered:  

One of the enduring symbols of the landing of the Pilgrims is Plymouth Rock, a large granite outcropping of rock that was near their landing site at Plymouth, and which would have certainly been a significant landmark in the area.  However, none of the contemporary accounts of the actual landing makes any mention that the Rock was the specific place of landing.  The Pilgrims chose the site for their landing not for the rock, but for a small brook nearby that was a source of fresh water and fish.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 75, 78-79</ref>

One of the enduring symbols of the landing of the Pilgrims is Plymouth Rock, a large granite outcropping of rock that was near their landing site at Plymouth, and which would have certainly been a significant landmark in the area.  However, none of the contemporary accounts of the actual landing makes any mention that the Rock was the specific place of landing.  The Pilgrims chose the site for their landing not for the rock, but for a small brook nearby that was a source of fresh water and fish.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 75, 78-79</ref>

The first identification of Plymouth Rock as the actual landing site was in 1741 by 90-year old Thomas Faunce, himself the son of a settler who had arrived in Plymouth in 1623, three years after the supposed event.  The rock was later covered by a solid-fill pier.  In 1774, an attempt was made to excavate the Rock, but it broke in two.  The severed piece was placed in the Town Square at the center of Plymouth.  In 1880, the intact half of the rock was excavated from the pier, and the broken piece was reattached to it.  Over the years, souvenir hunters have removed chunks from the rock, but the remains are now protected as part of the complex of living museums that includes the ''[[Mayflower II]]'', a recreation of the original ship, Plimoth Plantation, an historical reenactment of the original 1620 settlement, and the Wampanoag Homesite, which recreates a 17th century Indian village.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 351-356</ref>

The first identification of Plymouth Rock as the actual landing site was in 1741 by 90-year old Thomas Faunce, himself the son of a settler who had arrived in Plymouth in 1623, three years after the supposed event.  The rock was later covered by a solid-fill pier.  In 1774, an attempt was made to excavate the Rock, but it broke in two.  The severed piece was placed in the Town Square at the center of Plymouth.  In 1880, the intact half of the rock was excavated from the pier, and the broken piece was reattached to it.  Over the years, souvenir hunters have removed chunks from the rock, but the remains are now protected as part of the complex of living museums that includes the ''[[Mayflower II]]'', a recreation of the original ship, Plimoth Plantation, an historical reenactment of the original 1620 settlement, and the Wampanoag Homesite, which recreates a 17th-century Indian village.<ref>Philbrick (2006) pp 351-356</ref>

==See also==

==See also==