The mayflower sailing on rough seas

Illustration by Gary Hanna

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This article was prepared in consultation with Darius Coombs, Director of Wampanoag and Eastern Woodlands Performance Research and Interpretive Training at Plimoth Patuxet, Plymouth, MA.

A Struggle to Survive

For the Pilgrims, trying to start a new life nearly ended in disaster.

November 16, 2020
By Lisa M. Herrington

As You Read, Think About: What challenges did the Pilgrims overcome to establish Plymouth?

It was the fall of 1620. Violent waves tossed the Mayflower in the stormy North Atlantic Ocean. The ship’s passengers, now known as the Pilgrims, shook with worry and fear. They were on their way from England to set up a new colony in North America. But would they make it? 

“They didn’t know what they were going to encounter,” says Nathaniel Philbrick, who has written two books about the Mayflower.

It was the fall of 1620. Violent waves tossed the Mayflower. The ship was in the stormy North Atlantic Ocean. The ship’s passengers are now known as the Pilgrims. They shook with worry and fear. The Pilgrims were on their way from England. They planned to set up a new colony in North America. But would they make it? 

“They didn’t know what they were going to encounter,” says Nathaniel Philbrick. He has written two books about the Mayflower.

Rough Voyage

Illustration by Mark Fredrickson

The Pilgrims were actually two main groups. A group known as the Separatists wanted to practice their religion freely, while many other passengers came mainly to start a new life in a new land. 

Their original plan was to take two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell, and to arrive in North America while the weather was still warm. 

The ships set sail in August but were forced to turn back when the Speedwell sprang a leak. As a result, more people packed onto the Mayflower. It didn’t depart until September 6, 1620.

But the Mayflower was built for cargo, not people. The ship’s 102 passengers, including about 30 children, had to cram together below deck for much of the trip. The ceilings were too low for most passengers to stand. Many slept on damp, straw-filled mattresses. Many passengers got horribly seasick.

During the 3,200-mile voyage, a sailor and a young passenger died. On November 11, after more than two terrible months at sea, the ship arrived at Cape Cod in what is now Massachusetts.

The Pilgrims were actually two main groups. A group known as the Separatists wanted to practice their religion freely. Many of the other passengers came mainly to start a new life in a new land. 

Their original plan was to take two ships. They were the Mayflower and the Speedwell. The ships would arrive in North America while the weather was still warm. 

The ships set sail in August. But they were forced to turn back when the Speedwell sprang a leak. As a result, more people packed onto the Mayflower. It didn’t depart until September 6, 1620.

But the Mayflower was built for cargo, not people. The ship’s 102 passengers included about 30 children. They all had to cram together below deck for much of the trip. The ceilings were too low for most passengers to stand. Many slept on damp, straw-filled mattresses. Many passengers got horribly seasick.

During the 3,200-mile voyage, a sailor and a young passenger died. The Pilgrims spent more than two terrible months at sea. On November 11, the ship arrived at Cape Cod in what is now Massachusetts. 

Map It Out

The Mayflower’s original destination was present-day New York City, but severe weather blew the ship off course. Use details from the map, including the compass rose and distance scale, to describe the ship’s voyage.

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Map It Out

The Mayflower’s original destination was present-day New York City, but severe weather blew the ship off course. Use details from the map, including the compass rose and distance scale, to describe the ship’s voyage.

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

A Harsh Winter

In the bitter cold, a small search party set off from the ship to look for a place to settle. Meanwhile, food supplies were running low, and the Pilgrims couldn’t plant crops in winter. 

“It was just about the worst time to arrive,” Philbrick says. 

A few weeks later, the settlers found a cleared spot to build their colony. The area was part of the homeland of a Native American nation called the Wampanoag (WAHM-pah-nawg). That colony later became known as Plymouth.

The next few months were filled with misery. While many of the men struggled to build homes for their new colony, most of the Pilgrims remained on the ship. They were malnourished and weak, and many became sick from the cold and disease. Only about half the Pilgrims survived the first year. 

“They died sometimes two or three a day,” William Bradford later wrote. He became the colony’s governor after its first governor died that spring. 

A small search party set off from the ship to look for a place to settle. The weather was bitter cold. Meanwhile, food supplies were running low, and the Pilgrims couldn’t plant crops in winter. 

“It was just about the worst time to arrive,” Philbrick says. 

A few weeks later, the settlers found a cleared spot to build their colony. The area was part of the homeland of a Native American nation called the Wampanoag (WAHM-pah-nawg). That colony later became known as Plymouth.

The next few months were filled with misery. Many of the men struggled to build homes for their new colony. Most of the Pilgrims remained on the ship. They were malnourished and weak. Many became sick from the cold and disease. Only about half the Pilgrims survived the first year. 

“They died sometimes two or three a day,” William Bradford later wrote. He became the colony’s governor after its first governor died that spring.

First Feast

The colonists might not have survived without the Wampanoag, who became their allies. They showed the Pilgrims how to grow corn and survive in their new environment.

In the fall of 1621, the two groups got together for a feast, which is often called the first Thanksgiving. It marked the Pilgrims’ first harvest and their survival of that difficult first year. Their story has become one of the most famous chapters in American history.

The colonists might not have survived without the Wampanoag. They became the Pilgrims’ allies. They showed the Pilgrims how to grow corn and survive in their new environment. 

In the fall of 1621, the two groups got together for a feast. It is often called the first Thanksgiving. It marked the Pilgrims’ first harvest and their survival of that difficult first year. Their story has become one of the most famous chapters in American history.

If You Lived in Plymouth Colony

Your chores would help your family survive. 

Tim Llewellyn

Pilgrim kids spent their days doing chores like hauling water for cooking and washing, fetching firewood, and grinding corn for food. “The work that they did was vital in not only supporting their family but their family’s survival,” says Malka Benjamin. She works at a museum in Plymouth that re-creates what life was like in the original colony.


You’d wear heavy layers—even in the summer heat.

Tim Llewellyn

Boys wore baggy, knee-length pants called breeches and jackets called doublets. Girls wore waistcoats, aprons, and long skirts called petticoats. 


You’d play some games we know today. 

Shutterstock.com

The Pilgrims played a version of tic-tac-toe, called “naughts and crosses,” and “all hid”—which we call hide-and-seek. They also played a game similar to jacks with pig knuckle bones.


If You Lived in Plymouth Colony

Your chores would help your family survive. 

Tim Llewellyn


Pilgrim kids spent their days doing chores like hauling water for cooking and washing, fetching firewood, and grinding corn for food. “The work that they did was vital in not only supporting their family but their family’s survival,” says Malka Benjamin. She works at a museum in Plymouth that re-creates what life was like in the original colony.

You’d wear heavy layers—even in the summer heat.

Tim Llewellyn


Boys wore baggy, knee-length pants called breeches and jackets called doublets. Girls wore waistcoats, aprons, and long skirts called petticoats. 

You’d play some games we know today. 

Shutterstock.com


The Pilgrims played a version of tic-tac-toe, called “naughts and crosses,” and “all hid”—which we call hide-and-seek. They also played a game similar to jacks with pig knuckle bones.

1. Why did people sail aboard the Mayflower? What was their main goal?

2. What text structure does the article mostly follow? How do you know?

3. Which details support the idea that the Pilgrims might not have survived without the Wampanoag?

1. Why did people sail aboard the Mayflower? What was their main goal?

2. What text structure does the article mostly follow? How do you know?

3. Which details support the idea that the Pilgrims might not have survived without the Wampanoag?

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