Pilgrim Fathers
Dear Student,
This is your assignment in preparation to your visit to Leiden.
Introduction
The Pilgrims, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were the English settlers who came to North America on the Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony in what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts, named after the final departure port of Plymouth, Devon. Their leadership came from the religious congregations of Brownists, or Separatist Puritans, who had fled religious persecution in England for the tolerance of 17th-century Holland.
The Pilgrims moved to Holland around 1607/1608. They lived in Leiden a city of 30,000 inhabitants, living in small houses behind the Kloksteeg opposite the Pieterskerk. The success of the congregation in Leiden was mixed. Leiden was a thriving industrial center, and many members were able to support themselves working at Leiden University or in the textile industry and breweries. Others were less able to bring in sufficient income, because of their rural backgrounds and the language barrier.
An upcoming economic crisis and the approaching end of the 12 year truce, made them decide tot leave Holland.
The Pilgrims bought a small schip, The Speedwell, and departed Delfshaven in July 1620 after a canal ride from Leiden of about seven hours. It reached Southampton and met with the Mayflower and the additional Pilgrims form England. The Speedwell was sold, because het took on water. The Mayflower passengers sighted land on November 9, 1620 after enduring miserable conditions for about 65 days, and confirmed that the area they landed was Cape Cod within the New England territory.
Your assignment
As you know I am very interested in the history of the Pilgrims and their stay in Leiden. You also know I am going to visit Leiden soon. To make my visit unforgettable you decide to send me some information about Leiden in the 17th century and the life the Pilgrims lead there.
Send me an (informal) email in which:
- you tell me many details about Leiden in the early 17th century
- you tell me many things about the life the Pilgrims lead in Leiden
How to get your information?
Down here you will find some sources:
- Pilgrims in Leiden > here
- Museum de Lakenhal > here
- The reasons the Pilgrims came to America > here
- Het Leiden van Rembrandt > here
- Thanksgiving een Nederlandse erfenis? > here
- of course you can search the internet for more information
Write your email in English (salutation: Dear Mr Bosselaar, introduction, paragraphs containing linking words like first, second, besides, also, next to this etc , closing formula: Kind regards/Best regards/Bye, your name).