How the first Pilgrims and the Puritans Differed in Their Views on Religion and Respect for Native Americans
26th November 2024
The Conversation, a Voice of the Crust.
Every November, numerous articles recount the arrival of 17th-century English Pilgrims and Puritans and their quest for religious freedom. Stories are told about the founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the celebration of the first Thanksgiving feast.
In the popular mind, the two groups are synonymous. In the story of the quintessential American holiday, they have become inseparable protagonists in the story of the origins.
But as a scholar of both English and American history, I know there are significant differences between the two groups. Nowhere is this more telling than in their respective religious beliefs and treatment of Native Americans.
As you might expect, ‘treatment of Native Americans’ is far more important than ‘their respective religious beliefs’.