How the "USA" began: Pilgrims at Plymouth?

CrashCourse (US History #2); Scholastic.com; Xochitl, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Colonizing America: Who were the first Settlers, and when is Thanksgiving?

John Green teaches us about the (English) colonies in what is now the "United States of America."

He covers the first permanent English colony at Jamestown, Virginia [not Plymouth, Massachusetts], the various theocracies in Massachusetts, the feudal kingdom in Maryland, and even a bit about the spooky lost colony at Roanoke Island.

What were the English doing in America, anyway? Lots of stuff. In Virginia, the Colonists [under British colonial rule] were largely there to extract (steal) resources and make money.

In Maryland, the idea was to create a a colony for Catholics who wanted to be serfs of the Lords Baltimore.

In Massachusetts the "Pilgrims," who were never called that except by one writer, and Puritans (who never called themselves that at all) came to America to find a place where they could freely persecute those who didn't share their religious beliefs. But there was a strong profit motive in Massachusetts as well.

Profits were thin at first, and so were the colonists. Trouble growing food and trouble with the Natives kept the early colonies from success. Before long though, the Colonists started cultivating addictive tobacco, which was a financial win for everyone involved except for the lung cancer.

So kick back, light up a smoke, and learn how America became profitable. Don't smoke, though! That was a joke. Turn on the captions; you'll like them!

Hey teachers and students, check out CommonLit's free collection of reading passages and curriculum resources to learn more about the events of this episode. Modern Native Americans have varied perspectives on Thanksgiving and the start of European invasion/colonization in America. 

Chuck Larsen's Plymouth Thanksgiving Story reveals a new native and anthropological take on the famous first Thanksgiving meal.

Field trip to Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth

Let's see "America's hometown." This trip features invading English Pilgrims Settlers and Wampanoag, "The People of the Morning," Native inhabitants. discussing their lives, their eventual collaboration, and the imaginary "First Thanksgiving." For Thanksgiving lesson plans and teaching instruments that stick to the feelgood official American propaganda story, visit scholastic.com.