Homework for tomorrow - Tuesday, April 7th

True Story or Pure Fiction?

Most of you know the basics to the story of the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and Plymouth. But, how much of the story do you really know? What have you heard? There really is much more to it. So here is what you are going to do. Written below are parts of the Pilgrim story. Using the link to the Mayflower site (located in the right column) I want you to dig a little deeper. Tell me if EACH of these are true stories or pure fiction. If you think it is pure fiction, find out what really happened and make your corrections to the story. Copy these onto a word document first, then complete your work and bring in tomorrow! Have fun! See you tomorrow.

1. The Mayflower began its solo voyage on August 5th. The passengers aboard ship were religious pilgrims seeking to leave behind persecution they experienced in England. Thus, the group was called "Pilgrims". The trip across the Atlantic was rather uneventful and the Mayflower arrived off the Cape Cod area of what is now Massachusetts in November of 1620.

2. During the voyage a young man named John Howland was thrown overboard during a storm after racing above deck from below. While flailing his arms in the pitch black and brutally cold water, he somehow found a rope connected to the sails. He held on and was rescued to the astonishment of all.

3. There were three pregnant women on board the Mayflower. One of the women, Elizabeth Hopkins gave birth during the voyage, right there on board the moving ship, surround by about 100 other people and a bunch of stinky animals. She gave birth to a little girl and named her Atlanticus in honor of the voyage over the Atlantic.

4. There was an incredibly mean sailor on board the Mayflower. He was loud, profane, and abusive towards the pilgrims, constantly, especially when they were above decks getting some exercise. This young sailor went too far one evening when he quarreled with one of the pilgrim leaders, William Bradford. Bradford was pushed over board and lost at sea - the only person to die on the voyage.

5. When the pilgrims arrived in the New World, finally, after a long, long two months at sea; they were found to be in the wrong location. D'oh! Before going ashore most of the passengers were made to endure another month and a half of living in the cramped, stinky hold of the Mayflower! It took the leaders that long to find the spot they wanted to build their plantation/village - which, as you know, will be at a place called Plimoth - Plymouth to you and I today.