During the early 1600s, European nations like England, France, Spain, and the Netherlands sought to expand their territories and gain wealth through the establishment of colonies in the New World. They arrived in an occupied land already. The search for religious freedom, economic opportunities, and political autonomy drove many settlers to the shores of North America. By 1733, 13 colonies along the Atlantic Coast.
Définition
Colonial Period
The colonial period refers to the era in American history when European settlers established colonies on the eastern coast of present-day United States, from the early 1600s until the American Revolution in 1775.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, commemorating the harvest and other blessings of the past year, famously linked to a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.
The Early Colonial Settlements
The Pilgrims, Puritans and Plymouth Colony
In 1620, the Mayflower arrived in present-day Massachusetts, carrying English Puritan settlers known as the Pilgrims They established Plymouth Colony, becoming one of the first permanent English settlements in North America. The Pilgrims were seeking religious freedom and faced a harsh first winter, with many deaths due to disease and lack of food. In 1621, after a successful harvest, the Pilgrims celebrated with a three-day feast, now considered the first Thanksgiving.
Puritans emphasized strict adherence to the Bible and personal piety, someone who adheres to strict moral or religious principles, or who is excessively concerned with propriety and morality.
The Role of Native Americans
The survival of early settlers was supported significantly by Native American tribes, particularly the Wampanoag. The Wampanoag shared their knowledge of local resources, agricultural techniques, and trade, which were integral for the colonists’ sustenance and survival. Without the tribe, the settlers wouldn't have survived. The relationship, however, was complex and the eventual European expansion led to conflicts and disequilibrium in native populations, often violent nature of these relationships.
The First Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving is often dated to 1621, following the first successful harvest in Plymouth. This three-day feast involved the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag sharing food and resources. Although the event was peaceful and cooperative, it is not the origin of the modern holiday. Different stories and traditions built-up Thanksgiving over centuries.
Evolution of Thanksgiving as a National Holiday
Thanksgiving as we know it was shaped significantly in the 19th century. Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential writer, campaigned for Thanksgiving to become a national holiday. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving, amid the Civil War, to foster unity and gratitude. The date was standardized under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941.
A retenir :
The Colonial Period was a pivotal era in shaping American history, marked by the establishment of European colonies and interactions with native peoples. The Pilgrims' story at Plymouth Colony is emblematic of the challenges and cooperation between settlers and Indigenous tribes. Thanksgiving emerged as a symbol of harvest gratitude, evolving into a cherished national tradition that binds American society in a shared cultural and historical narrative.
