The Story of the Mayflower

The Story of the Mayflower

At Sea The Mayflower left England in September 1620. The travelers on board were going to America to live in the Virginia Colony. Storms rocked the Mayflower as it crossed the ocean. It was a hard trip, but the travelers hoped life would be better in America. Today, we remember these travelers as the Pilgrims.

In Search of a New Home The Mayflower took sixty-six days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Bad weather blew the ship off course. The Pilgrims reached the coast of what is now Massachusetts. They were about 200 miles(322 km) north of the Virginia Colony.

The Pilgrims didn't know if they should go to Virginia or stay where they were. They were told to settle in Virginia. They worried they might be breaking the law if they changed their plans.

They also didn't know anything about the area. They weren't sure if it was a good place to stay. They decided to sail to Virginia. Their ship was nearly sunk by rocks, though, and they turned back. The Pilgrims argued about what to do next.

In November 1620, all the men signed the Mayflower Compact. It was an agreement to listen to colony leaders and follow the laws they made. The Pilgrims built their new home where they were. They called it Plymouth (PLIH-muhth) Colony.