The Mayflower

During the reign of the Catholic King James I the Puritans were persecuted because they wanted to purify the English Church. In September 1620 a group of them, being tired of persecution, sailed from the port of Plymouth on board the Mayflower, a three-masted ship. These Puritans, called The Pilgrim Fathers, were in search of a new land to settle in. It was a very long and difficult voyage across the stormy Atlantic Ocean and many times the ship was on the point of sinking. Nine weeks later, the Pilgrims reached Cape Cod in North America. That spot was rocky and bare but some Pilgrims went ashore all the same, hoping to find a good place where to live. One month later, those who had landed discovered a good natural harbour where all the Pilgrims settled at last. The colony they founded was named New Plymouth. Many other English colonies were funded after this one and all of them were called New England. These settlers together with others coming from many European countries were the founders of the United States of America.