Thanksgiving documents

MAYFLOWER CROSSING AND THE PILGRIMS

1. From which city and country did the Pilgrims leave for the New World? ___________________________________________

2. From which continent did they leave ? _________________________________

3. When did the Pilgrims set sail? ____________________________________

4. Which is the name of the ship in which they sailed? _____________________________________

5. In which direction did the Pilgrims sail: northeast, northwest, southwest, or southeast? ___________________________________

6. Which ocean did the Pilgrims cross? ________________________________________

7. To which continent did they sail? ________________________________________

8. When did the Pilgrims land on this continent? ________________________________________

9. How long did their voyage take: 5 days, 30 days, 66 days, or 94 days? _______________________________

10. The Pilgrims first landed on Cape Cod (in what is now Massachusetts) and then sailed to a nearby area. What is the name of the stony landmark where they eventually landed? ____________________________________________

Difficult texts to take information from :

INDIAN POINT OF VIEW

The Indians in the classic Thanksgiving story are the Wampanoags, a tribe that has lived for thousands of years in what is today coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

In 1620, a ship carrying European settlers landed off the coast of Massachusetts. The people, who would eventually be called Pilgrims, started a settlement at an abandoned Patuxet Wampanoag village.

Some native people helped them through their first difficult year (nearly half of the Pilgrims starved to death) teaching them how to grow and gather native food.

The two groups signed a treaty of friendship that probably meant very different things to each of them. Because the Wampanoags, like most Native Americans, had no concept of owning land, it was most likely just a sign of goodwill.

 In European culture, however, a treaty meant the land now belonged to them.

The Wampanoags also probably found no harm in signing such a pact with a group of people who seemed so harmless and inept; after all, the white settlers were struggling just to stay alive.

 When the Pilgrims harvested their first crop, about a year after their arrival, they shared some food with Wampanoags who happened to be visiting. This was the first Thanksgiving

EUROPEAN POINT OF VIEW

The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag

The Pilgrims came to America in search of religious freedom. One hundred and two passengers set sail in August, 1620 on the Mayflower. They landed at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620 and in New Plymouth on December 16, 1620 (Plymouth Plantation Inc.).

The Pilgrims worked hard to survive in the new land. They constructed homes of forest logs and sticks woven together. They mixed sand, clay, water, and straw to make a daub plaster to cover the walls. Pilgrim children were very busy with daily chores including: tending the fires, preparing meals, setting the table, milking goats, fetching water, and many others. They had very little time for play.

The Pilgrims hit hard times when they settled in the New Land. They had brought wheat to plant but it would not grow in the rocky soil. They were suffering a food shortage, living in dirt shelters, and many were dying. Due to their fear of the Native Americans, the Pilgrims would bury the dead at night so the Native Americans could not see how many were dying. Only half of those that traveled to the new land survived the harsh winter. The Pilgrims were in desperate need of help.

Imagine the Pilgrims surprise when a Native American named Samoset strolled into the village and spoke to them in English. Samoset knew little English so he found a fellow Wampanoag named Squanto who knew English well. The Pilgrims welcomed the help that Squanto brought them. Squanto stayed with the Pilgrims for the next few months teaching them survival skills. He taught them how to cultivate corn, beans, and other vegetables. Squanto taught the pilgrims to bury three fish and then plant the corn on top of the fish. This served as fertilizer. They would also plant beans around the corn to allow the bean plants to climb up the corn stalks for better growing. Squanto taught the Pilgrims about poisonous and medical plants, demonstrated how to dig for clams, get sap form maple trees, and many other skills By fall the Pilgrims were doing much better. Their leader, Captain Miles Standish, invited Squanto, Samoset, and other Wampanoag to join them for a celebration. The Native Americans observed six thanksgiving festivals during the year, including a fall harvest festival. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks for the harvest. However, the Pilgrims were not prepared to feed over ninety Indians so Massasoit, the Native American leader, sent men home for more food. They brought back five deer. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag feasted for three days and built friendship.