Today in History: The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag

On this day (March 22) in 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony forged a peace treaty with Massasoit of the Wampanoag. The treaty stated that neither side would harm the other and if one did do harm, that person would be turned over to the harmed side for punishment. Thefts by either side would be restored. Both sides would render military aid to the other if they were attacked and they would publicize this fact. And finally, neither side would bring weapons into the other side’s settlements. The terms of the treaty were straight forward and simple and helped to cement an alliance which lasted through the first generation of the Plymouth Colony.