| | '''Plymouth Colony''', founded in 1620 in what is now [[Massachusetts]], was an early [[England|English]] colony in the [[New World]]. Many of the so-called Pilgrims to Plymouth were members of a religious group known as the Separatists, who believed the [[Anglican Church]] of England was too [[hierarchy|hierarchical]]and had retained many of the trappings of the Catholic Church. They drew much of their influence from [[John Calvin]], such as the notion of [[predestination]], and the right of the individual to interpret the [[Bible]] for himself. The Mayflower Compact, signed aboard their ship, the Mayflower, guaranteed all citizens of the colony self-government. [[William Bradford]], the leader of the colony, authored ''Of Plimouth Plantation'', a history of the colony. Despite mostly good relations with local [[Native Americans]], half of the colonists died in the first two years. 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 [[England|English]] colony in the [[New World]]. Many of the so-called Pilgrims to Plymouth were members of a religious group known as the Separatists, who believed the [[Anglican Church]] of England was too [[hierarchy|hierarchical]]and had retained many of the trappings of the Catholic Church. They drew much of their influence from [[John Calvin]], such as the notion of [[predestination]], and the right of the individual to interpret the [[Bible]] for himself. The Mayflower Compact, signed aboard their ship, the Mayflower, guaranteed all citizens of the colony self-government. [[William Bradford]], the leader of the colony, authored ''Of Plimouth Plantation'', a history of the colony. Despite mostly good relations with local [[Native Americans]], half of the colonists died in the first two years. Plymouth Colony later merged with the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] to form the colony of [[Massachusetts]]. |