Pilgrims, Puritans, and Slaves

Honors U.S. History

Indentured Servitude

• In exchange for a free trip, you work seven years for the person who pays your way– After seven years, you get your freedom– Fifty acres of your own land– You’re not treated like a slave– Nearly half of indentured servants died before

seven years

• Europe does not allow many opportunities for advancement or land ownership

The Headright System

• As a landowner, each indentured servant you sponsor gets you 50 acres of land

• Problem – The more land you had, the more power you had

• Problem – There are people who already have a claim to that land (Indians)

• Problem – If you are a farmer, you need cheaper labor to work it (slaves)

The Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact

• Created a working political system

• The government’s power comes from those governed, not God

• Received help from Squanto about how to farm

Puritans

• A group of Christians looking to purify the Anglican Church

• Persecuted by the English Monarchy so they left Europe

• Separatists (Pilgrims) left in 1620 aboard the Mayflower

• Settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Great Puritan Migration

• 1629 – Massachusetts Bay Colony established by John Winthrop

• Puritan life revolved around a Covenant with God– Government is a group of people– Work should serve the group– The True Church (Puritan) is always to be

served

Northern Colonies vs. Southern Colonies

• North – Whole families

• South – Individual males

• North – Better weather, longer lives, larger families

• South – Spread out farming communities

• North – Closer communities

• North – VERY religious