Round 1 – The Journey
1. When did the Mayflower leave Plymouth? (3 points)
1 point for the year 1620
1 point for the month September
1 point for 6th or 16th (depending on whether you use the Gregorian or Julian calendar)
2. True or false – the Mayflower’s passengers were all escaping religious persecution (1 point)
False. ‘Just over a third of the passengers were Puritan Separatists who sought to break away from the established Church of England and create a society along the lines of their religious ideals. Others were hired hands, servants, or farmers recruited by London merchants, all originally destined for the Colony of Virginia. Four of this latter group of passengers were small children given into the care of Mayflower pilgrims as indentured servants’ (Wikipedia)
3. True or false – the Mayflower’s passengers were all from the South-West (1 point)
False. The majority of the ‘Pilgrims’ were from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. For more information, visit the Pilgrim Roots website
4. How many passengers travelled on the Mayflower? (1 point)
102
5. Except for humans, name one other animal that was thought to have travelled on the Mayflower? (1 point)
Dog, pig or chicken
6. Name one other place in the UK that the Mayflower stopped on its journey to America (1 point)
London, Southampton or Dartmouth
7. Show us where you think the Mayflower landed when it arrived in America by making a mark on the map below (1 point)
8. Roughly how long was the Mayflower at sea for? (1 point)
Between 60 and 70 days
9. True or false – September was a sensible time for the Mayflower to travel from the UK to US (1 point)
False. It was a period of traditionally poor weather for the crossing
10. Can you name the sister ship that was supposed to travel with the Mayflower to the US? Why didn’t this sister ship make the journey? (2 points)
1 point for The Speedwell (1 point)
1 point for saying it wasn’t seaworthy and was springing leaks (or something similar!)
Total points available: 13
Round 2 – On Arrival
- What was the Mayflower Compact, signed by the Mayflower’s passengers upon their arrival in America? (1 point)
Something to the effect of a document agreeing the rules by which the Mayflower’s passengers would live in their new community
- Roughly what percentage of the Mayflower’s passengers survived their first winter in America? (1 point)
Anything from 45% to 55%
- What is the name of the Native American community who were pivotal to the Mayflower’s passengers’ survival in America? (1 point)
Wampanoag – find out more here
- How did the Mayflower’s passengers communicate with the Native American community? (1 point)
In English, via an interpreter called Squanto who was taken as a slave by earlier European visitors. He has an amazing story (you can watch storyteller Katy Cawkwell’s performance about this on the History Festival website and Mayflower Facebook page tomorrow). Slavery itself is an important element of the Mayflower story; some of the Mayflower’s passengers were slaves and the journey sits within the wider process of Western colonisation that is strongly linked to slavery.
- What is the name of the US holiday associated with the meeting between the Native Americans and Mayflower’s passengers? (1 point)
Thanksgiving
- True or false – the Mayflower was the first ship to make the journey from the UK to America (1 point)
False
- William Mullins, one of the Mayflower’s passengers, became prosperous by bringing a significant number of pairs of shoes and boots on the journey. How many pairs did he bring across? (1 point)
265 – you can have 1 point for any number between 250 and 280
Total points available: 7
Round 3 – The Commemoration
- Why do we refer to Mayflower 400 as a commemoration and not a celebration? (1 point)
Anything to the effect of, while there are elements of the story to celebrate, many people lost their lives through the journey and as a result of colonisation, which continues to impact on the Wampanoag and other communities. This is one reason why we’re working closely with the Wampanoag on projects like the Wampum Belt to make sure they have the opportunity to tell their story through the commemoration
2. Why are we avoiding the term ‘Pilgrim Fathers’ in our commemoration? (1 point)
Because women and children made the journey too, and not all the passengers were travelling for religious reasons
3. How many Americans are directly descended from the Mayflower’s passengers? (1 point)
It’s generally to be considered to be around 25m – you can have 1 point for anything between 20m and 30m
4. Can you name two famous Mayflower descendants? (2 points)
Check your answers here – there are lots to pick from!
5. Where, according to urban legend, are the original Mayflower Steps located in the Barbican? (1 point)
The Admiral McBride pub
6. Plymouth still has a great range of events that are planned for the commemoration that will take place once its safe for people to take part. Can you name an event that is taking place in Plymouth as part of the commemoration? (1 point)
The Mayflower Muster, Mayflower Ceremony, opening of the Box, Mayflower Trail, This Land TRP production, Get Active sports campaign… give yourself a point if you’re confident you’re right. For up to date information on events, visit the Mayflower 400 website
7. Mayflower 400 is a chance to share and debate Plymouth’s wider history, including its status as the departure point for some of the most important journeys in world history. Name two other famous maritime journeys that left from Plymouth (2 points)
Check the internet to confirm if you’re right! There are lots to pick from and we’d love to know which ones you came up with
8. Plymouth has some amazing sights and attractions that we want more people to appreciate. What do you think the best thing about living in Plymouth is, so we can share it with the world? (1 point)
Give yourself a point for answering, we’re looking forward to seeing what comes in!
Total points available: 10
Plymouth History Festival 