Excerpt
Chapter 1: Who Were the Pilgrims?
When people hear the word “Pilgrims,” they often think of tall black hats, big belt buckles, and a feast with turkey and corn. That’s the version many kids learn in school, especially around Thanksgiving. But the real story of the Pilgrims is a lot more interesting than just one meal. They were regular people who made a very difficult choice—to leave everything they knew behind and start over in a place they had never seen.
They weren’t called “Pilgrims” at first. That name came much later. At the time, they were just men, women, and children trying to live their lives the way they believed was right. Most of them were part of a religious group that didn’t agree with how the Church of England worked. In England, the king was in charge of the church, and everyone had to follow the rules set by the government about how to worship. These people didn’t want to cause trouble, but they also didn’t want to be told how to pray or what to believe.
That’s where their journey started—not with ships or maps, but with beliefs. They wanted the freedom to practice their religion in their own way. That might not sound like a big deal now, but back then, it could get you fined, put in jail, or worse. These people were serious about their faith, and they were willing to take risks to follow it.
At first, they tried moving to a different country—Holland, also known as the Netherlands. In Holland, there was more religious freedom. That sounded like a good idea, and for a while, it worked. They were allowed to have their own church, and nobody arrested them for their beliefs. But life in Holland wasn’t easy. Many of them couldn’t get good jobs. Their kids were growing up speaking Dutch instead of English, and some parents worried they were losing their culture and language. They also knew that war might come to Holland, and they didn’t want to get caught in it.
They didn’t want to go back to England, and they didn’t want to stay in Holland. That’s when they heard about the New World. Across the ocean, there were English colonies where people were starting fresh. It was risky. The journey was dangerous, and no one knew exactly what life would be like in this new land. But the idea of starting a community where they could live the way they wanted was strong enough to convince them to go.
Not everyone on the ship shared the same beliefs. Some people joined the trip for other reasons. They wanted land, a better life, or just a chance to try something new. These people were often called “Strangers” by the religious group, but everyone had to work together if they were going to survive. Once they set sail, they were all in it together.
It’s easy to think of the Pilgrims as only the adults, but kids were part of the group too. Some were babies, some were school-aged, and some were teenagers. They didn’t get to choose whether they went or stayed. They had to follow their parents, even though they might not have understood why they were leaving home behind. For many of the kids, that journey would be the last time they ever saw England.
Being a Pilgrim meant more than just sailing on the Mayflower or landing in a new land. It meant living with purpose. These people weren’t perfect, and they didn’t have all the answers. But they were brave in their own way. They stood up for what they believed in, even when it cost them comfort, safety, and sometimes even their lives.
Their story didn’t start with Thanksgiving, and it didn’t end there either. Before they ever met Native Americans or built homes out of logs, they had to make hard decisions. They had to trust that a better future was possible, even when they had no proof.
That trust came from their belief in their religion, but also in each other. They made a promise to stick together, help one another, and build something that hadn’t been done before. They weren’t superheroes or famous before they left. They were farmers, workers, mothers, fathers, and children. They were just people who wanted to live honestly and freely.
It’s important to see the Pilgrims not as characters from a holiday story but as people who faced tough choices. They got seasick. They worried about money. They missed their homes. Some of them argued or made mistakes. But they also built a new life in a place where nothing was guaranteed.
Their decision to travel across the Atlantic Ocean shaped the future in ways they couldn’t imagine. They laid the groundwork for the colony of Plymouth, which became a key part of American history.
When people hear the word “Pilgrims,” they often think of tall black hats, big belt buckles, and a feast with turkey and corn. That’s the version many kids learn in school, especially around Thanksgiving. But the real story of the Pilgrims is a lot more interesting than just one meal. They were regular people who made a very difficult choice—to leave everything they knew behind and start over in a place they had never seen.
They weren’t called “Pilgrims” at first. That name came much later. At the time, they were just men, women, and children trying to live their lives the way they believed was right. Most of them were part of a religious group that didn’t agree with how the Church of England worked. In England, the king was in charge of the church, and everyone had to follow the rules set by the government about how to worship. These people didn’t want to cause trouble, but they also didn’t want to be told how to pray or what to believe.
That’s where their journey started—not with ships or maps, but with beliefs. They wanted the freedom to practice their religion in their own way. That might not sound like a big deal now, but back then, it could get you fined, put in jail, or worse. These people were serious about their faith, and they were willing to take risks to follow it.
At first, they tried moving to a different country—Holland, also known as the Netherlands. In Holland, there was more religious freedom. That sounded like a good idea, and for a while, it worked. They were allowed to have their own church, and nobody arrested them for their beliefs. But life in Holland wasn’t easy. Many of them couldn’t get good jobs. Their kids were growing up speaking Dutch instead of English, and some parents worried they were losing their culture and language. They also knew that war might come to Holland, and they didn’t want to get caught in it.
They didn’t want to go back to England, and they didn’t want to stay in Holland. That’s when they heard about the New World. Across the ocean, there were English colonies where people were starting fresh. It was risky. The journey was dangerous, and no one knew exactly what life would be like in this new land. But the idea of starting a community where they could live the way they wanted was strong enough to convince them to go.
Not everyone on the ship shared the same beliefs. Some people joined the trip for other reasons. They wanted land, a better life, or just a chance to try something new. These people were often called “Strangers” by the religious group, but everyone had to work together if they were going to survive. Once they set sail, they were all in it together.
It’s easy to think of the Pilgrims as only the adults, but kids were part of the group too. Some were babies, some were school-aged, and some were teenagers. They didn’t get to choose whether they went or stayed. They had to follow their parents, even though they might not have understood why they were leaving home behind. For many of the kids, that journey would be the last time they ever saw England.
Being a Pilgrim meant more than just sailing on the Mayflower or landing in a new land. It meant living with purpose. These people weren’t perfect, and they didn’t have all the answers. But they were brave in their own way. They stood up for what they believed in, even when it cost them comfort, safety, and sometimes even their lives.
Their story didn’t start with Thanksgiving, and it didn’t end there either. Before they ever met Native Americans or built homes out of logs, they had to make hard decisions. They had to trust that a better future was possible, even when they had no proof.
That trust came from their belief in their religion, but also in each other. They made a promise to stick together, help one another, and build something that hadn’t been done before. They weren’t superheroes or famous before they left. They were farmers, workers, mothers, fathers, and children. They were just people who wanted to live honestly and freely.
It’s important to see the Pilgrims not as characters from a holiday story but as people who faced tough choices. They got seasick. They worried about money. They missed their homes. Some of them argued or made mistakes. But they also built a new life in a place where nothing was guaranteed.
Their decision to travel across the Atlantic Ocean shaped the future in ways they couldn’t imagine. They laid the groundwork for the colony of Plymouth, which became a key part of American history.