The Mayflower Begins

On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower embarked on a historic journey from Plymouth, England, to the shores of what would become the United States of America. This voyage would mark the beginning of a new chapter in human history, as the passengers aboard the Mayflower would establish a new settlement in the New World.

The Mayflower was a small ship, only about ninety feet long and twenty-six feet wide, and was designed to carry cargo across the English Channel. However, for this journey, it was outfitted to carry one hundred and two passengers, including men, women, and children, as well as a crew of around thirty people.

The passengers aboard the Mayflower were primarily English Separatists who were seeking religious freedom and the opportunity to establish a new community where they could practice their faith without persecution. They had initially attempted to settle in Holland, but after several years there, they decided to undertake the perilous journey across the Atlantic to the New World.

The journey across the Atlantic was long and treacherous, with the passengers enduring storms, seasickness, and cramped living conditions. However, after sixty-six days at sea, the Mayflower finally reached land, which was later to be known as Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The passengers aboard the Mayflower faced many challenges in the early days of their settlement in the New World. They had arrived too late in the year to plant crops and had to rely on the local Wampanoag tribe for food and supplies. They also faced harsh winters, disease, and conflicts with other Native American tribes.

Despite these challenges, the passengers of the Mayflower persevered, and their settlement eventually grew into the colony of Plymouth, which would become one of the first successful English settlements in the New World. The legacy of the Mayflower and its passengers can still be felt today, as their journey marked the beginning of a new era in human history, one characterized by exploration, colonization, and the pursuit of freedom and opportunity.