Moving to the New World

Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock on a snowy day in December 1620.
Image Credit: Sarony & Major. "The landing of the Pilgrims, on Plymouth Rock, Dec. 11th 1620." c1846. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Essential Question:

Why did people immigrate to the New World?



 

Many factors led Europeans to immigrate to North America. Most of the first colonists were searching for a fresh start. They had hopes of creating a successful life in a new place. Some of the first colonists wanted religious tolerance. Others were pushed off of their land in Europe because they were in debt or owed money. Others could have been brought as indentured servants or enslaved persons.

Now let’s focus our attention on the passengers of the Ark and the Dove. Why did colonists travel on these two ships and sail across the Atlantic Ocean to live in the New World?

Read the book to find out why.

Watch the video. Can you identify some push and pull factors that influenced the settlers to migrate to the New World? Discuss these factors with a partner.