Thanksgiving

THE PILGRIMS


In 1620, a group of people decided to leave England. They crossed the Atlantic  Ocean and settled in America. These people were called pilgrims. They decided to make the long journey because they wanted religious freedom.  

 THE JOURNEY

The pilgrims crossed the ocean in a ship called the Mayflower. There were 102 passengers aboard the ship. The ship was cramped with little room to move about.  At first the weather was pleasant, but then the ship met storms  and strong winds. During the voyage, two people died and one child was born. Finally, after 65 days at sea, the Mayflower sighted land.

A HARD LIFE AT THE COLONY

The pilgrims created a colony at Plymouth. Life was hard at the colony. At first the pilgrims lived on the Mayflower while they built their homes on land. It was winter so they were cold and wet. Soon many of the pilgrims became ill. About half of the pilgrims died during the first year of deseases such as scurvy and pneumonia.

 THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

With the help of Native Americans, the colony survived the first year. Native Americans taught the colonists how to grow corn

and how to collect sap from maple trees. 

 

 The colonists who survived the first year had a three day feast to give thanks for their first harvest

 

 Text from 

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