Saints & Strangers is a story that goes beyond the well-known historical account of Thanksgiving and the founding of Plymouth Plantation. It shows the trials and tribulations of the 102 men, women, and children who set sail on a chartered ship for a place they had never seen. Half of this group are what we call "pilgrims" or "saints." They are religious separatists who gave up their old lives to fight for religious freedom. The other half, called "strangers," were merchant adventurers whose goals were less spiritual and more practical. This clash of values made it hard for the group to start a new colony, and their relationship with the Native American tribes in the area made things even harder. The different loyalties of these groups led to struggles of assimilation, faith, and compromise that still shape our country today.
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Saints & Strangers is a story that goes beyond the well-known historical account of Thanksgiving and the founding of Plymouth Plantation. It shows the trials and tribulations of the 102 men, women, and children who set sail on a chartered ship for a place they had never seen. Half of this group are what we call "pilgrims" or "saints." They are religious separatists who gave up their old lives to fight for religious freedom. The other half, called "strangers," were merchant adventurers whose goals were less spiritual and more practical. This clash of values made it hard for the group to start a new colony, and their relationship with the Native American tribes in the area made things even harder. The different loyalties of these groups led to struggles of assimilation, faith, and compromise that still shape our country today.
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