Since Cape Cod was outside the area they were supposed to settle in, the group agreed to write a "compact" or "self-governing" agreement.
The next thing that happened was very important indeed. It was quickly decided to head back to the deeper, safer waters off the tip of Cape Cod. When the "Mayflower" turned south, however, it ran into rough, shallow waters and became in danger of tipping over and sinking. The Pilgrim group had permission to settle in the northern part of Virginia (which in those days reached to present day New York). On November 11, 1620, the Pilgrims got their first look at the New World when they saw Cape Cod. But they sensed that what they were doing was an important piece of history. The trip across the ocean was rough and uncomfortable for the 101 passengers. (The original Pilgrim church members called themselves "Saints" and the others "Strangers.") Finally, after many setbacks, the "Mayflower" left for America on September 6, 1620. In addition to the Pilgrims, it was necessary to include around fifty other English people to pay for the ship and supplies. But it was too difficult and too expensive to move everyone at once. Their leaders, William Bradford, Reverend John Robinson and several others worked out a plan to move the entire Pilgrim church group to America. Their children wanted to speak Dutch instead of English and they missed other things about English life as well. But the King denied the request, and the Pilgrims decided to leave England and move to Holland, where freedom of religion was accepted.Īfter several years of living in Holland, the Pilgrims became restless and unhappy. When King James came along, the Pilgrims thought they might finally be able to ask for permission to set up their own church. (One of their beliefs was that they should be allowed to select their own church leaders and ministers).Īs different Kings and Queens took over ruling England throughout this period they had different ideas about religious practices. The Pilgrims were "Separatists," and they were often punished severely for this. Others were called "Separatist" because they wanted to become completely separate from the official Church of England. One of these groups was called "Puritans" because they wanted to make the existing Anglican church more "pure" and simple. Near the end of the 1500s, a number of groups began to form in England with renewed interest in trying to establish different church practices. Others wanted it to be even more simple and to rely more on Bible teachings than ceremony. Some wanted the Anglican Church to be more like the old Catholic church. Many people in England did not agree either. Most of the countries surrounding England did not agree with the King's decision. Their story begins in England, sometime after King Henry VIII started the independent Church of England, also known as the Anglican or Episcopal Church. The Pilgrims were a small group of people who made a great impact on world history.
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