From the Archives: Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick first posted 1/10/2016

This past Thanksgiving to get into the spirit of the Holidays I read Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, an award winning historian, who has written books on the American Revolution, Custer's Last Stand, the Sinking of the Whaleship Essex etc.

Philbrick's book Mayflower published in 2007 tells the story of the Puritans coming to America in 1620, Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.  He also takes the reader through the next 50 years of New England History culminating in King Phillip's War (1675-1678).  It was a war between tbe descendants of the Mayflower Puritans and Native Americans who greeted them upon arrival.  Philbrick points out that in the 50 years prior to the outbreak of war both sides had gotten along reasonably well and had worked out a contract that had kept the peace for half a century. 

As Philbrick explains both sides needed each other.  The Native American population in the Cape Cod area had been decimated in the years prior to 1620 by disease brought over by European explorers.  The Puritans after departing ftom the Mayflower were also struck by disease.  Of the 102 that sailed on the Mayflower only 53 were still alive by the following winter of 1621.  Both sides had a great deal to teach each other about crops, shelter, hunting and medicine. And in the beginning both the Puritans and Native Americans had visionary leaders who kept the peace.  But as the decades went on and more and more English settlers landed on the shores of New England grabbing land and unfairly compensating the Native American population, tempers began to mount. 

Nathaniel Philbrick wonders in his book if things could have turned out differently and the tragedy of King Phillip's War averted?  He does a very good job of detailing this period of American history including why the Puritans were willing to leave England risking their livelyhood and their lives.  Mayflower shines a light on a period of US history not taught much in schools but should be.