The Mayflower: Why Did the Pilgrims Leave Europe?
About this episode
More than 30 million people can trace their ancestry to the 102 passengers and 30 crew aboard the Mayflower when it landed in Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts in the harsh winter of 1620. On board were men, women and children from different walks of life across England and the city of Leiden in Holland. But why did the Pilgrims leave their old lives behind in the first place, chancing it all to cross the treacherous Atlantic and settle a strange alien land?
In today's episode Don is joined by Dr Anna Scott, heritage consultant and public historian at the University of Lincoln in the UK, to learn more about this 400-year-old tale of religious persecution, financial opportunity and a Puritanical fight for freedom that helped sow the seeds of a fledgling nation.
Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
You can take part in our listener survey at https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK.
All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media.
American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get every episode summarized
Each time American History Hit publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from American History Hit
Sherman's March: Invading the South
American History Hit
America's Worst President
American History Hit
The People's Founding Father
American History Hit
The Truth About the Louisiana Purchase
American History Hit