The First Thanksgiving Myth vs Fact The Colonists

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The First Thanksgiving Myth vs. Fact

The First Thanksgiving Myth vs. Fact

The Colonists were referred to as Pilgrims. Myth Fact��

The Colonists were referred to as Pilgrims. Myth Fact��

Myth!! They referred to themselves as Puritans or Separatists. They were not referred to

Myth!! They referred to themselves as Puritans or Separatists. They were not referred to as Pilgrims until the early 20 th Century.

Thanksgiving was not celebrated every year until the mid 19 th Century. Myth� Fact

Thanksgiving was not celebrated every year until the mid 19 th Century. Myth� Fact

Fact!! Thanksgiving wasn’t celebrated yearly until it was declared a National Holiday in the

Fact!! Thanksgiving wasn’t celebrated yearly until it was declared a National Holiday in the mid 19 th century by Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil War, Lincoln used it to build troop morale and rally citizen support.

Colonists embarked on a land of great wilderness but were still able to clear

Colonists embarked on a land of great wilderness but were still able to clear and cultivate land. Myth Fact� ���

Myth!! The Colonists set up camp among the plantations already cleared by and cultivated

Myth!! The Colonists set up camp among the plantations already cleared by and cultivated by the Wampanoag.

Natives had been living in North America since after the Great Ice Age. Additionally,

Natives had been living in North America since after the Great Ice Age. Additionally, the Spanish and Dutch had made earlier voyages to America in attempt to colonize. Myth Fact

Fact!! Natives inhabited America since around 15 - 25, 000 BC. The Colonists did

Fact!! Natives inhabited America since around 15 - 25, 000 BC. The Colonists did not settle America. Attempts at colonization go back as far as 1526 by the Spanish and the Dutch in 1614. The 1 st English settlement was in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.

About 10 – 20 million Natives inhabited North America in 1620. Myth Fact

About 10 – 20 million Natives inhabited North America in 1620. Myth Fact

Fact!! As little as 1 million Natives living in North America in the early

Fact!! As little as 1 million Natives living in North America in the early 17 th Century is a statistic fictitiously written in many history textbooks. The land was hardly scarce of indigenous peoples.

Wampanoags such as Squanto volunteered to help the Colonists. Myth Fact

Wampanoags such as Squanto volunteered to help the Colonists. Myth Fact

Myth!! Squanto, along with 26 other Wampanoag Natives were kidnapped, kept as slaves and

Myth!! Squanto, along with 26 other Wampanoag Natives were kidnapped, kept as slaves and forced to help the Colonists. Squanto traveled many times between America and Europe where he was taught English in order to better serve the Colonists.

The Indians freely gave up their land plantations to the Colonists. Myth Fact

The Indians freely gave up their land plantations to the Colonists. Myth Fact

Myth!! The Colonists gained much of the Wampanoag land as Small Pox devastated entire

Myth!! The Colonists gained much of the Wampanoag land as Small Pox devastated entire Native villages. The Natives had not been exposed to such diseases and succumbed easily. Approximately 80 - 90% of the Natives perished.

The Indians had never seen such a feast! Myth Fact

The Indians had never seen such a feast! Myth Fact

Myth!! The Colonists had probably never seen such a feast since all the food

Myth!! The Colonists had probably never seen such a feast since all the food was indigenous to America. Popcorn and Cranberry Sauce were not served. We are not even sure if Turkey was on the menu.

The Mayflower Compact had very little bearing on our forefathers creation of the Constitution.

The Mayflower Compact had very little bearing on our forefathers creation of the Constitution. Myth Fact

Fact!! Although it was the first document outlining a democracy in America, our forefathers

Fact!! Although it was the first document outlining a democracy in America, our forefathers did not base our Constitution on the proclamations in the Mayflower Compact.

The Colonists participated in grave robbing, stealing, murder and even chemical warfare against the

The Colonists participated in grave robbing, stealing, murder and even chemical warfare against the Wampanoag people. Myth Fact

Fact!! The Colonists robbed graves for gold, stole corn and beans. They also committed

Fact!! The Colonists robbed graves for gold, stole corn and beans. They also committed murder…killing Natives with technologically advanced weapons. They even participated in chemical warfare - using poison.

Perspectives from the Wampanoag and the Colonists The Wampanoag and the Colonists had different

Perspectives from the Wampanoag and the Colonists The Wampanoag and the Colonists had different points of view. It can be hard for people with different points of view to understand each other. The words in the following timeline are those of actual people who lived back then. Historians have found writings from both the Wampanoag and the Colonists. Path to the First Thanksgiving