A beginner's historyMace, William H. (William Harrison)
History
A beginner's history
Mace, William H. (William Harrison)
United States -- History
=51. How the New England Colonists Lived.= The Puritans and the
Pilgrims had a hard struggle in their new homes. The winters were long
and colder than in England. For the cold weather they had to build
warm houses and barns, and store up much grain, hay, and provisions.
The summers were cool and short; tobacco and even corn did not ripen
so well as in Virginia. Most of the land was hilly and stony and hard
to cultivate. But these things did not discourage the settlers, who
merely worked so much harder. Soon they raised all the corn, wheat,
cattle, and sheep they needed, and even had some left to sell. Where
the streams had waterfalls they built mills with big water wheels. In
these they ground their flour and meal and sawed their lumber.
While the men farmed the land, or ran mills, or fished, the women also
did their share of the work. They made butter and cheese, spun and wove
the wool into cloth, and made many other things which now we buy from
stores.
[Sidenote: =The Pilgrims build towns and villages=]
Unlike the Virginia colonists, many people of New England lived in
towns and villages. They built churches, schools, and town halls.
All the people went to church. Most of the children attended school.
Whenever any question arose in which every one was interested, they
talked it over at the town meeting. In these ways the New England
colonists differed from the Virginians.
SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL
=The Leading Facts.= _1._ The Puritans first migrated to Holland to
gain religious freedom. _2._ Later they decided to go to America,
where they planted the colony of Plymouth, made peace with the
Indians, and began to worship in their own way. _3._ John Winthrop
founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony of 700 Puritans. _4._ He was
such a good governor that he was elected almost every year until
his death. _5._ John Eliot converted many Indians and established
several Christian Indian communities. _6._ King Philip was goaded
into a war with the whites of Massachusetts. _7._ He was defeated
and treacherously killed.
=Study Questions.= _1._ Why did the Pilgrims decide to leave
England? _2._ What new danger threatened them in Holland? _3._
Picture the _Mayflower_ in a storm at sea. _4._ Tell the story of
Miles Standish and his little army. _5._ What useful things did the
Pilgrims learn from the Indians? _6._ Why would putting dead fish
in the hill help the corn to grow? _7._ Why have Americans loved
the Pilgrims so well? _8._ How did the Pilgrims' treatment of the
Indians compare with that of the Spaniards? _9._ Tell the story of
John Winthrop and the Puritans. _10._ Tell the story of John Eliot.
_11._ What did he do before he began to teach the Indians? _12._
Tell the story of King Philip.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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