1. What beliefs and character traits that typified the Pilgrims enabled them to survive in the hostile enviornment that greeted them in the new world? Did some limit?
Words to describe the Puritans were very disciplined and very faithful. Their discipline extended to limited dancing and no shows. There was little margin or error and goofing off would not be tolerated. In the new world, goofing off would fail these Pilgrims and discipline held them together. They stayed calm in the hardest of conditions and were focused on building a successful settlement. Their faith saved them. They could have easily given up but they believed they were there to do God's word and that he does everything for a reason. The limitations were that they were English. The English have had a poor reputation with the English thanks to Thomas Hunt, a man who captured and enslaved the Indians. Regardless if there are peaceful Englishmen, there will always be the Natives who wanted to take revenge any way they could and that was portrayed by a few tribes like the Naragansetts.
3. Why has America forsaken the truth about these times in exchange for a misleading and often hokey mythology?
For thanksgiving and how it was celebrated, the written evidence describing the event was not accurate and overtime, that has caused Americans to extract new ideas about what happened during thanksgiving. Also, the mythology of thanksgiving really has established a prosperous tradition of the meal and being thankful for what one has. So, a reason was to give people a reason to establish a holiday and a tradition. Another reason was that time has passed and people would have had their facts straight if an event like this happened 50 years ago as opposed to 400 years.
4. The Pilgrims established a tradition of more or less peaceful coexistence with the Native Americans that lasted over fifty years. Why did that tradition collapse in the 1670s and what might have been done to retain it?
What maintained peace between the Pilgrims and the Pokanoket Indians was that there was an agreement reached in Plymouth. There were six guidelines: a pilgrim can't injure a pokanoket and vice versa, the offender if commiting harm should be punished by the offended community or tribe, if a tool was stolen when at work it must be restored, the unjust will not be defended by their people, peace with all neighbors, and when visiting, leave weapons behind. Governors Carver and Bradford did an outstanding job with Massasoit (Pokanoket sachem) to keep this in check for fifty years. It collapsed when Josiah Winslow and Alexander took leaders of Pilgrims and the Pokanoket tribe respectively. Tensions between them arose causing to the murder of Alexander, starting off years of blood.
5. How did the strengths and weaknesses of Squanto and his personality end up changing history and why did one man make such a difference?
Squanto was a slave to English explorer Thomas Dermer. Under Dermer, he was able to learn English. Later, his master was killed, but Squanto at this time understood the ways of the Englishmen. He was tolerant of the Pilgrims and saw the good in him like he saw in everyone. He became friends with the Pilgrims and instructed them the land. His weaknesses were that he didn't have enough power among the tribes because the Pilgrims would have been well respected among the Natives if he was. He made a huge difference because he introduced the Natives to other people where the Pilgrims were able to form alliances. Without him, the Pilgrims would have become vulnerable and wouln't make it far enough for New England to prosper.
6. The Children of the Pilgrims were regarded in their own time as unworthy of the legacy and sacrifices of their parents. Why did they acquire this reputation? Was it deserved and were the denunciations of the second generation a kind of self fulfilling prophesy?
They acquired this reputation because they were American born and did not endure the sacrifices needed to make a harsh voyage away from the persecutions of the King James. The first generation endured the hardships of getting to know the land and construct the settlement so the second generation could live easier. If I was in their shoes, I would call them lucky but not unfortunate so at first, it wasn't deserving. However, what was thought of them was true because all the peace treaties and respect earned by the first generation was broken by the second generation. This new generation attacked the Indians and therefore, attacked the agreement made the the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets. Their actions made them deserving to recieve the title 'unworthy'.
Book: MAYFLOWER by Nathaniel Philbrick
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