1. The Story of Thanksgiving
Fall 2016

2. Timeline 1587—Roanoke Colony (North Carolina)
Known as the “Lost Colony”
First English attempt to start a colony in America
1607—Jamestown Colony (Virginia)
First permanent and successful English colony in America
Led by John Smith
1620—Plymouth Colony (Massachusetts)
English Colony established by the Pilgrims
Origins of Thanks

3. Church of England Official Church in England
Everyone in England had to be members
Tax money supported the Church of England
One of the oldest churches in England, Build in the 7th Century

4. Saint Luke’s Church, Smithfield, Virginia
Church of England
Official Church in England
Everyone in England had to be members
Tax money supported the Church of England
Saint Luke’s Church, Smithfield, Virginia
17 Century (1600s)

5. Saint Thomas Church, Bath, NC
Church of England
Official Church in England
Everyone in England had to be members
Tax money supported the Church of England
Saint Thomas Church, Bath, NC
Oldest Church in NC

6. Pilgrims
Pilgrim—a person who travels from one place to another for religious reasons
Separatists—wanted to separate from the Church of England
Disagreed with the Church of England
Persecuted* because of their faith (religious beliefs)
*persecuted—mistreated because of religious beliefs

7. Mayflower
September 6, 1620—the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England
102 passengers
Pilgrims—Separatists who came for religious reasons
Strangers—those who came with the Pilgrims but did not follow the religion of the Pilgrims
Voyage took 66 days
Mayflower II, A replica of the original Mayflower

8. Replica Replica = (Noun) exact copy of the original
Replicate = (Verb) to make an exact copy of the original

9. Mayflower

10. Plymouth, Massachusetts
Intended destination was Jamestown, Virginia
Strom blew them off course
Ended up in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts in October of 1620
Jamestown, Virginia

11. Mayflower Compact Agreement made between Pilgrims and strangers
The Strangers agreed to abide by the laws of the colony
The Pilgrims agreed to allow the Strangers to vote on leaders and help make decisions
Oldest document in America that created a government based on consent
Consent = agreement by all the people

12. John Carver Passenger on the Mayflower Writer of the Mayflower Compact
First governor of the Plymouth Colony
Died in April of 1621

13. William Bradford Founder of the Plymouth Colony
Governor of the Plymouth colony for more than 30 years.
One of original signers of the Mayflower Compact
Wrote “Of Plymouth Plantation”, the story of the first settlers at Plymouth

14. Miles Standish Military leader of the Plymouth colony
Lead in preparing a defense for the colony

15. William Brewster Preacher and Pastor
Religious leader of the Plymouth colony from 1620 to 1629
Preached until his death in 1644

16. Nearly half of the Pilgrims died during the first winter.
Harsh Winter of
Nearly half of the Pilgrims died during the first winter.

17. Samoset
First Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims on March 16, 1621
Pilgrims surprised when Samoset entered their camp and introduced himself in English
He had learned English from English fishermen who fished in the waters near Plymouth.

18. Wampanoag Indians “People of the Dawn”
Boston
Cape Cod
Martha’s Vineyard
Nantucket
Lived in what is now Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

19. Massasoit “Great Leader” Chief of Wampanoags
Pilgrims and Massasoit signed a treaty to help and defend each other if either was attacked. (March 22, 1621)

20. Squanto Also known as Tisquantum
Had been captured and taken to England in 1605
Was able to speak English and interpret for the Pilgrims
Helped the Pilgrims
Taught Pilgrims how to plant and harvest maize and how to use Menhaden (fish) as fertilizer

21. First Pilgrim Thanksgiving
Plentiful Harvest in 1621
Invited Wampanoags over for a Celebration
Ate duck, goose, turkey, cornmeal, cod, and venison
Ate with spoons, knives and fingers (no forks)

22. First National Day of Thanksgiving
Proclaimed by the Second Continental Congress in 1777

23. George Washington
President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789

24. Sarah Josepha Hale Author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
Campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day for many years.

25. Abraham Lincoln (1863)
1863—President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a National Day of Thanksgiving
Each president after Lincoln proclaimed the last day of November as Thanksgiving each year.

26. National Holiday
Congress passed a law making Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1941
The law declared that the fourth Thursday in November would be celebrated as Thanksgiving.
President Franklin Roosevelt signed the bill into law on November 26, 1941