When is Thanksgiving? Colonizing America (US History)

Crash Course: When is Thanksgiving? Colonizing America (US History)

Crash Course: When is Thanksgiving? Colonizing America

Introduction Imagine you're a Pilgrim, just arrived in the New World, and you're about to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. But here's the thing: you're not actually celebrating Thanksgiving. At least, not yet. In fact, the first Thanksgiving didn't happen until 1621, and it wasn't even called Thanksgiving. So, when is Thanksgiving, really?

The Core Idea Thanksgiving is a holiday that commemorates the early European settlers of America, specifically the Pilgrims, who held a harvest feast in 1621. But the story of Thanksgiving is way more complicated than that. It involves colonization, displacement, and the complex history of Native American-European relations.

Key Facts & Figures

• 1620: The Mayflower sets sail from England, carrying 102 English Separatists (later known as Pilgrims) to the New World.
• 1621: The Pilgrims hold a harvest feast to celebrate their first successful crop, which we now know as the first Thanksgiving.
• Wampanoag: The Native American tribe that helped the Pilgrims adapt to their new environment and taught them how to farm.
• Squanto: A Wampanoag who spoke English and acted as a translator and guide for the Pilgrims.
• Massasoit: The Wampanoag leader who formed an alliance with the Pilgrims.
• 1623: The Pilgrims establish the Plymouth Colony, which becomes a model for future English colonies.
• 1630s: The Puritans establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which becomes a major hub for English colonization.
• Native American population: Estimates suggest that there were between 5-10 million Native Americans in the Americas before European contact.
• Disease and displacement: European diseases like smallpox and influenza decimate Native American populations, while displacement and violence lead to the loss of land and culture.
• King James I: The English monarch who issued the charter for the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607.
• Plymouth Rock: The famous landmark where the Pilgrims supposedly landed, but which is actually a myth with no historical basis.

Thought Bubble Imagine you're a Wampanoag living in the 1620s. You've seen the English arrive, and you're not sure what to make of them. They're strange and awkward, but they seem to be trying to make friends. You teach them how to farm and hunt, and they're grateful. But you also know that their presence is a threat to your way of life. You've seen what happens when European diseases spread through your communities, and you're worried about what will happen next. As you sit down to eat with the Pilgrims, you can't help but wonder what the future holds.

Why This Matters

• Colonization and displacement: The story of Thanksgiving is a microcosm of the larger process of colonization and displacement that occurred throughout the Americas.
• Native American rights: The legacy of colonization continues to impact Native American communities today, from land rights to cultural preservation.
• Cultural exchange: The story of Thanksgiving highlights the complex and often fraught nature of cultural exchange between different groups.
• Historical revisionism: The traditional narrative of Thanksgiving has been challenged by historians and Native American communities, who argue that it erases the experiences and perspectives of Native Americans.
• National identity: The story of Thanksgiving is often used to define American national identity, but it's a complex and contested narrative that requires critical examination.
• Food and culture: The traditional foods associated with Thanksgiving, like turkey and pumpkin pie, have complex histories that reflect the cultural exchange and conflict between European and Native American communities.
• Commemoration and memory: The way we commemorate and remember historical events like Thanksgiving can have a profound impact on our understanding of the past and our relationships with different communities.

Crash Course Recap

• ⚠️ The first Thanksgiving didn't happen until 1621, and it wasn't even called Thanksgiving.
• The Pilgrims were English Separatists who established the Plymouth Colony in 1623.
• The Wampanoag tribe helped the Pilgrims adapt to their new environment and taught them how to farm.
• Squanto was a Wampanoag who spoke English and acted as a translator and guide for the Pilgrims.
• Massasoit was the Wampanoag leader who formed an alliance with the Pilgrims.
• The Native American population was decimated by disease and displacement.
• King James I issued the charter for the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607.
• Plymouth Rock is a myth with no historical basis.
• The story of Thanksgiving is a complex and contested narrative that requires critical examination.
• The legacy of colonization continues to impact Native American communities today.

Quiz Yourself

1. What was the name of the ship that carried the Pilgrims to the New World? a) Mayflower b) Santa Maria c) Columbia d) Plymouth

Answer: a) Mayflower

1. Who was the Wampanoag leader who formed an alliance with the Pilgrims? a) Squanto b) Massasoit c) King Philip d) Geronimo

Answer: b) Massasoit

1. What was the name of the English monarch who issued the charter for the Virginia Company? a) King James I b) Queen Elizabeth I c) King Henry VIII d) King George III

Answer: a) King James I

1. What was the name of the famous landmark where the Pilgrims supposedly landed? a) Plymouth Rock b) Cape Cod c) Plymouth Colony d) Jamestown

Answer: a) Plymouth Rock

1. What was the name of the disease that decimated Native American populations? a) Smallpox b) Influenza c) Malaria d) Tuberculosis

Answer: a) Smallpox