Plymouth Colony

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Embarkation-Weir

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Interview of Samoset with the Pilgrims

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Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

History

Plymouth Colony was founded by a group of English Puritans who later came to be known as the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims' leadership came from the religious congregations of Brownist Separatists, who had fled the volatile political environment in England for the relative calm and tolerance of Leiden in the Netherlands. They secured a patent from the London Virginia Company to settle within its jurisdiction in North America. In pursuit of freedom of worship, the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower in 1620, and after a grueling 66-day journey marked by disease and death, they landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Upon landing, the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to form a crude government and to submit to majority rule. This compact established the first basis in the new world for written laws, borne of the consent of the governed.

The early years of the colony were marked by hardship and struggle. The winter of 1620-1621 was particularly brutal, and nearly half of the colonists died from malnutrition, disease, and exposure. With the help of local Native Americans, including Squanto and the Wampanoag tribe, the survivors were able to learn vital skills for survival such as fishing, planting corn, and navigating the local terrain.

Government

The government of Plymouth Colony was based on a colonial charter. The male settlers formed a 'civil body politic' through the signing of the Mayflower Compact, which provided for laws and ordinances to govern the colony. Over time, the colony developed a more formalized government structure, including the establishment of General Courts, which were legislative assemblies and courts.

Economy

The economy of Plymouth Colony was based primarily on agriculture, fishing, and trading. Corn, beans, and squash were the main crops, following the agricultural practices taught by the Native Americans. The colony also benefited from the fur trade and fish exports to Europe.

Dissolution

In 1691, Plymouth Colony was absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony under a new royal charter. This merger ended Plymouth's independent status, integrating its territory into the larger and more populous Massachusetts Bay.

Legacy

Plymouth Colony holds a significant place in American history as the site of the first Thanksgiving and as a symbol of early European colonization and interaction with Native American peoples. Its story is a foundational part of the narrative of religious freedom and self-governance in the United States.