Answer:
In September 1620, the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower and set sail for the New World, America. Only 35 of the 102 passengers of the Mayflower were Separatists. The rest of their congregation had been forced to remain behind. After more than 2 months at sea, the Mayflower finally reached the shores of North America. In the words of William Bradford, “they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious sea.” Understanding man’s sinful nature, they knew they would need discipline among themselves. The Pilgrims drew up a document which 41 men signed, called the Mayflower Compact. This document was written in the name of God. It stated that they were coming to America for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith. It said they were covenanting themselves together and presenting themselves in the presence of God, to establish a civil body politic for their better ordering and preservation and to establish laws and ordinances for the general good of the colony.
On December 21, 1620, the Pilgrims finally stepped ashore at a place they named Plymouth. Their first winter in the cold North American wilderness was difficult. Food and shelter were inadequate, and the settlers were plagued by illness. At one point, only seven of them were strong enough to care for the sick and bury the dead. By spring, half of the settlers had died. Yet in April 1621, when the Mayflower and its crew set sail back to England, none of the Pilgrims were on board, for they had determined, with God’s help, to make a home in America.
With the coming of spring, the Pilgrims’ situation began to improve. Squanto was an Indian who through divine providence, had lived and been educated in England for several years. On his return back to his tribe in America, he was kidnapped and sold as a slave. Many years later, he escaped and returned to his home to find that his entire tribe had died from a disease. Because he had not been there, he survived to be able to help the Pilgrims during their time of need. He lived with the Pilgrims at Plymouth and taught them how to hunt, fish, and plant crops. The Pilgrims got along well with the Indians. With their help, the Pilgrims caught much fish and game and had a good harvest of crops. In the fall of 1621, less than a year after their arrival, William Bradford, the colony’s governor, called for a three day feast, which is now remembered as the first Thanksgiving. Indians joined the Pilgrims as they celebrated, feasted, heard the Bible read publicly, and gave thanks to God for His many blessings. Years later, Abraham Lincoln helped establish Thanksgiving as a regular national holiday by proclaiming the last Thursday in November as “a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficial Father.”
The history of thanksgiving
Explanation:
