The Creation of

Colonial America

Creating the colonies

Lesson 2

Objectives

• Identify the difficulties the colonist Pilgrims had once they landed in Massachusetts.
• Analyze how many colonists survived the first winter at Plymouth
• Explain how the Native Americans contributed to helping the colonists.  

​

​

What problems would the pilgrims have to face once they landed?

The Winter

During the winter, most of the Pilgrims had to stay on board the Mayflower while others built the common houses on shore. The Pilgrim colonists suffered greatly from diseases like scurvy, lack of shelter and general conditions onboard ship. Many of the able-bodied men were too ill to work; 45 out of 102 immigrants died and were buried on Cole's Hill. Thus, only seven residences (of a planned nineteen) and four common houses were constructed during the first winter. It was a harsh environment with cold winds and heavy snowfall. Even in their newly built homes, the Pilgrims still grew ill and were unable to harvest food to eat.

The Winter

How did the Pilgrims survive?

http://www.history.com/topics/mayflower/videos/pilgrims-in-america

A Growing Colony

After winter had past, the colonists began planting crops. However, with little experience farming and no knowledge of fertilizing and proper use of soil, the colonists produced almost no food for Plymouth settlers. They soon had encounters with the Wampanoag, whom taught them how to plant and harvest crops.

It was Squanto who taught the Pilgrim colonists how to find herring, a kind of fish, and to use it as a fertilizer when planting corn, pumpkins and beans. This was especially important to the Pilgrims because the seeds they had brought with them from England did not do well in the New England soil. Squanto also showed them how to find clams and eels in the rivers and how to hunt for deer, bears and turkeys.

Fresh Water

​

​

The colonists found a spring to receive fresh water from

To commemorate their discovery, the colonists created a plaque designating the Spring as a governed area.

Treaty with The Wampanoag

• 1. That he nor any of his should do hurt to any of their people.

​

• 2. That if any of his did hurt any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him.

​

• 3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his.

​

• 4. If any did unjustly war against him, they would aid him; if any did war against them, he should aid them.

​

• 5. He should send to his neighbors confederates to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise compromised in the conditions of peace.

​

• 6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.

​

• 7. That King James would esteem Massasoit as his friend and ally.

​

A Growing Colony

By 1691, the Plymouth colony had grown to approximately 7,000 settlers. Since the colony had grown so much, it merged with the Massachusetts Bay colony to form the Providence of Massachusetts Bay. The colonists had built workshops for industries such as shipbuilding and iron works. Many colonists started growing tobacco and indigo to sell across the seas.

​

​

Critical Questions

How many Pilgrim colonists started the Plymouth colony after winter?

​

How many colonists were living in the Plymouth colony when it merged with Massachusetts Bay?

​

What would have happened to the colonists if the Native Americans would not have taught them farming?

​