Instant Expert: American History: The Mayflower Directed by Lisa Quijano Wolfinger, 2010

HISTORY introduces INSTANT EXPERT, an exciting new line of titles offering on-the-spot knowledge to students and lifelong learners on a wide variety of topics.

The epic saga of the pilgrims and their journey to and colonization of the New World is one of the fundamental narratives of our nation. Yet the true tale of this determined band of English Separatists bears little resemblance to the popular myth portrayed in grade school pageants. HISTORY takes a definitive look at the incredible pilgrimage that brought these unlikely pioneers – who endured religious persecution in their homeland and endless perils on the Atlantic – to the alien shores of a new continent in The Mayflower. From their treacherous ocean passage to their struggle to survive through winter, HISTORY explores the true story of the pilgrims, including their relationship with the Native Americans, their historic first Thanksgiving and how the colony’s saga continued in the decades after their fateful voyage.