Plymouth Colony

Definition

The Plymouth Colony was an English colonial settlement established in 1620 on the northeastern coast of what is now the United States. It was one of the earliest successful European settlements in North America and played a significant role in the challenges to Spain's supremacy in the early 17th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Plymouth Colony was established in 1620 by a group of Puritan Separatists known as the Pilgrims, who had fled religious persecution in England.
2. The Pilgrims arrived in North America aboard the Mayflower ship and established their colony at the site of present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts.
3. The Plymouth Colony played a crucial role in the challenges to Spain's supremacy in the early 17th century, as it represented the growing presence and influence of England in the New World.
4. The colony's self-governing structure, as outlined in the Mayflower Compact, served as a model for later English settlements in North America.
5. The successful relationship between the Pilgrims and the local Native American tribe, the Wampanoag, led to the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621, which has become a significant cultural tradition in the United States.

Review Questions

• Describe the significance of the Plymouth Colony in the context of the challenges to Spain's supremacy in the early 17th century.
  • The Plymouth Colony represented a significant challenge to Spain's dominance in the New World during the early 17th century. As one of the earliest successful English settlements in North America, the colony demonstrated England's growing presence and influence in the region, which threatened Spain's long-standing control over much of the Americas. The colony's self-governing structure, as outlined in the Mayflower Compact, also served as a model for later English settlements, further solidifying England's foothold in the New World and contributing to the gradual erosion of Spain's supremacy.
• Analyze the role of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact in the establishment and development of the Plymouth Colony.
  • The Pilgrims, a group of Puritan Separatists who had fled religious persecution in England, were the founders of the Plymouth Colony. Their arrival aboard the Mayflower ship in 1620 and the subsequent signing of the Mayflower Compact laid the groundwork for the colony's self-governing structure. The Mayflower Compact established a system of laws and governance for the new settlement, which allowed the Pilgrims to exercise a degree of autonomy and self-determination that was unusual for the time. This model of self-governance, which emphasized the principles of democracy and individual liberty, would go on to influence the development of later English colonies in North America and contribute to the challenges against Spain's supremacy in the region.
• Evaluate the significance of the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe in the context of the Plymouth Colony's role in the challenges to Spain's supremacy.
  • The successful relationship between the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony and the local Wampanoag tribe played a crucial role in the colony's ability to thrive and contribute to the challenges against Spain's supremacy in the early 17th century. The Wampanoag's assistance in teaching the Pilgrims survival skills and agricultural techniques was essential for the colony's initial success and growth. This collaborative relationship, culminating in the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621, demonstrated the Pilgrims' ability to forge alliances with Native American tribes, which provided them with a strategic advantage over the Spanish, who often had more contentious relationships with the indigenous populations. The positive rapport between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag further strengthened the Plymouth Colony's position and influence in the region, contributing to the gradual erosion of Spain's dominance in the New World.

Related terms

Mayflower Compact:

The Mayflower Compact was a document signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, establishing a system of self-government for the Plymouth Colony.

Pilgrims:

The Pilgrims were the English Puritans who founded the Plymouth Colony in 1620, seeking religious freedom and a new life in the New World.

Thanksgiving:

The annual holiday of Thanksgiving originated from the celebration held by the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony in 1621, marking a successful harvest and their survival in the New World.