The Mayflower Term Paper by Nicky

A look at various aspects of the Mayflower's voyage.
# 150750 | 1,949 words | 10 sources | APA | 2012 | US


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Description:

This examines the historical facts about the Mayflower voyage, further giving an historiographical overview of the Mayflower as a symbol. Then, the paper considers the Mayflower and surrounding events as part of a larger mythos of American popular culture, focusing on the meaning of the Mayflower and why such meaning remains important, even in the 21st century. Next, the paper presents a physical description of the ship and provides details of the voyage. It also addresses the relationship between the colonists and the Native Americans they encountered. Additionally, the paper explores the symbolic meaning of the Mayflower and its meaning in popular culture today. The paper concludes by stating that if we are mindful that historical accuracy remains important, but that popular culture serves its purpose, too, then we have taken a rather large step in synergizing the Mayflower story and its original intent with what the Mayflower now represents.

Outline:

Introduction
Background
The Voyage
2nd Mayflower
The Mayflower as Symbol
The Mayflower and Popular Culture
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Popular retelling of the Pilgrim's voyage to America has the group fleeing religious intolerance in England for a more "passive and accepting" land. This has, however, beads of truth in that a group of Calvinists from the East Midlands of England did leave England - but for Holland. After a time, though, these colonists, led by William Bradford, realized that they were becoming too acculturated into Dutch society and, to ensure their own identity and perpetuate their religious beliefs, it would be necessary to find a place in which they could worship freely and yet establish an English colony. These people, known as "Pilgrims" were the English colonialists who ultimately saved enough money to hire steerage to America. Despite their charter of establishing a fishing colony (some of the trip was underwritten by wealthy English speculators who realized how profitable a fishing-village could be), these colonists found it far more profitable to trade with the local indigenous tribes for fur (beaver and otter pelts). By doing so, not only could the colony enrich itself, it allowed a strategic advantage to have a trading partner in the New World."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Adkins, R. (2005). "Mayflower: The Voyage That Changed The World." Geographical. 77(9): 78.
  • Arenstam, P., et.al. (2007). Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage. NationalGeographic Books.
  • Bush, S. (2000). "America's Origin Myth: Remembering Plymouth Rock." American Library History. 12(4): 745.
  • East Texas Review. (2004). "The True History of Thanksgiving." AANativeArts.Com. Cited in: http://www.aaanativearts.com/article937.html
  • Nickerson, W. Sears. (1997). Land Ho! A Seaman's Story of the Mayflower. Michigan State University Press.

Cite this Term Paper:

APA Format

The Mayflower (2012, April 04) Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/the-mayflower-150750/

MLA Format

"The Mayflower" 04 April 2012. Web. 10 December. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/the-mayflower-150750/>

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