History Extra podcast The pilgrim fathers: everything you wanted to know
7 snips
Jun 8, 2024 
Nick Bunker discusses the harsh conditions aboard the Mayflower, how the colonists survived the first winter, and why the pilgrim fathers are iconic in American consciousness.
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Plymouth Colony's Significance
- The Pilgrim Fathers, or Pilgrims, were a group of English settlers who established the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.
- They represent the first successful, self-sustaining English colony in the Northeast United States, distinct from the Jamestown colony's reliance on slavery.
Reasons for Leaving England
- The Pilgrims' decision to leave England was driven by religious and economic factors.
- As Separatists, a radical Puritan group, they faced persecution for their beliefs and sought religious freedom in the Netherlands.
Leaving the Netherlands
- Despite finding some religious freedom, the Pilgrims left the Netherlands due to harsh working conditions, health concerns, and political instability.
- The prospect of establishing a Protestant colony in America also influenced their decision.