YOURS AND MINE:  Lesson of 1623

For most of us, the story of the Pilgrims’ colony at Plymouth seems intimately familiar. However, as our video host, Carra, reminds us, much of what we think we ‘know’ isn’t necessarily true. Here is a brief overview:

In the late 1500s, several factors were working together to encourage a group like the Pilgrims to leave their home in England. A religious revolution had been growing ever since Martin Luther’s bold act in 1519 of posting a list of 95 criticisms against the Catholic Church on the doors of the Wittenburg Cathedral. In England, Henry VIII had gone so far as to break with the Catholic Church. Although his reasons were as much personal/political as spiritual (if not more so), many Englishmen took the idea even further and sought to “purify” the church. Many did so within the parameters of Henry’s Anglican Church, but others (Separatists) believed that only a clean break would suffice.

By the early 1600s, a tolerant Queen Elizabeth had been succeeded by King James I, who feared the consequences of subjects defying his authority as head of the Church. He made life difficult for the Separatists and many emigrated to Holland. In 1608, a small group from Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, along with William Bradford from nearby Austerfield, Yorkshire, made the move to Holland. After a year in Amsterdam they settled in Leiden, found whatever work was available and enjoyed religious freedom. They did not prosper. The work was hard. Bradford wrote that no others would join them from England, preferring prison there to “this libertie in Holland, with these afflictions.” And their children were leaving the religious community to embrace the Dutch language and ways. They decided to leave Holland for economic reasons and to “save their children,” not for reasons of religious freedom, which they had already acquired.

They sent a representative to London to negotiate an agreement with a group of businessmen, called Adventurers, who had a patent from the Virginia Company to settle in the northern regions of Virginia. Believing the New World would offer them a better chance to prosper as well as religious freedom, the Pilgrims (who called themselves “Saints”) agreed to build a settlement and share the profits with the Adventurers. One hundred and two people left England on the Mayflower in September, 1620. Of this group, less than half (41*) were members of the church (Separatists) – the rest were hired servants or people seeking to make their fortune. (*This number is debated in various sources.)

The voyage across was difficult, but only one servant died – which was quite remarkable for the time – and one child was born. They had planned to settle in what is now New York, but storms drove them north and they landed first at what is now Provincetown, MA. After some scouting, they chose to settle at Plymouth Bay where there were cleared fields that had been abandoned by the indigenous people, most of whom had died from small pox and other diseases contracted from earlier European explorers. They went ashore in November.

The first winter was incredibly harsh; only 44 survived. Nevertheless, through their efforts and advice from a friendly native, they managed to grow a good harvest in 1621. But by 1623, with the arrival of more settlers and the failure of some to do their fair share of the work, a serious food shortage was threatening the existence of the colony. According to the original plan, all property (including produce from farming, hunting and fishing) would be treated as common property and divided equally, regardless of the amount of work put forth by individuals. This was thought unfair and the cause of the shortages. The problem was solved when families were given their own farm land. As Governor William Bradford noted in his diary, allotting plots of land to individuals and families, “led to good content,” after which they had plenty of food.

 

Worksheet

1. Some people came to Plimoth Plantation for religious reasons. Why did others come?

 

2. Who were the Adventurers?

 

3. Prior to 1623, what was the system used for growing food?

 

4. What year did Mrs. Fuller come over?

 

5. Why does the tourist (economist) want to meet the Fullers so badly?

 

6. The actress portraying Bridget Fuller says they are at the Plimoth Plantation to “dispel myths, not propagate them.” What does she mean, and what myths can you identify?

 

7. What were the results of property-sharing at the Plimoth Plantation in 1623? Why did this happen?

 

8. Why doesn’t the actor portraying Samuel Fuller want to swap cars with the tourist (economist)? Why does he take such good care of his car? Do you think he would take care of someone else’s car in the same way?

 

9. How did the Pilgrims obtain black pepper for cooking? How did they obtain parsley?

 

10. Who proposed allotting plots of land to individuals and families so that each would be responsible for their own harvest? 11. Is sharing always bad? Explain.

 

12. Why is private property essential to innovation and a better standard of living?