What Really Happened in 1621?
Every autumn, many people gather around tables filled with roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Many stories claim that this tradition began in 1621 as a peaceful celebration called the "First Thanksgiving." However, historians look closely at primary sources—writings from the people who were actually there—to understand what really took place.
In the autumn of 1621, English colonists in Plymouth, Massachusetts, gathered their first successful harvest of corn and barley. To celebrate the harvest, the English men fired their muskets during target practice. Hearing the gunshots, Ousamequin, the leader of the Wampanoag Nation, arrived at the settlement with about ninety men. The Wampanoag people had lived on that land, called Patuxet, for thousands of years. Earlier that spring, Ousamequin and the English leaders had formed a political and military treaty to protect and help one another. Ousamequin likely came to check on the noise and ensure the treaty was being honored.
- tradition:
- A custom, belief, or way of doing something that is passed down over time.
- harvest:
- The gathering of mature crops from the fields.
- treaty:
- A formal agreement between countries or groups to help and protect each other.
- diplomacy:
- The practice of discussing, negotiating, and maintaining good relations between different nations.
- negotiations:
- Discussions between groups trying to reach an agreement.
- primary sources:
- firsthand records or writings created by people who actually witnessed or lived through an event
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What kind of evidence do historians examine to learn what really happened in 1621?
- 2Why did the English colonists fire their muskets in the autumn of 1621?
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About this explanatory article passage for 4th Grade
“What Really Happened in 1621?” is a explanatory article reading passage about The 1621 Harvest Gathering, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (332 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.