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The arrival of Christopher Columbus and the first few European ships in the Americas symbolizes the mythological "primal scene" of discovery, where the New World was imagined as a utopia rich with resources and opportunity.  This was often told from the perspective of the European "visitors," laid the foundation for a national myth while marginalizing the experiences of Native peoples.

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Though never setting foot in what is now called the United States, Christopher Columbus became a symbolic figure in American mythology, representing the discovery of European settlement in the New World. His arrival in 1492 has been said to be the beginning of the march toward westward expansion. Early settlers were seen as heirs to this vision, fulfilling a narrative of progress. Shaped by ideological interests.

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Christopher Columbus’s writings, especially his letter to Luis de Santángel, portrayed his voyage as a monumental and historic discovery, shaping how the “New World” would be remembered. Even though a majority of his records are lost, his choices aimed to impress the Spanish Crown and secure support in the future. This set the tone for how early European settlers would set out on their voyages, not just as an exploration but as a world changing event leading to colonization and future settlement.

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In his letter, Columbus describes claiming the “New World” for Spain, despite it being already inhabited by the indigenous people. His proclamation highlights how the native population was erased as rightful owners. This act set a precedent for early settlers arriving by boat, like Columbus saw the land not as inhabited territory but as empty and available for European domination, framing colonization as discovery and displacement through gestures of control.

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Columbus’s legacy, though the myth of discovery. He was contested even during his lifetime. Despite his early fame, his authority in the colonies was hit by internal conflicts, mismanagement, and imprisonment. Early settlers who followed in his wake often faced chaotic conditions. Like Columbus, they arrived with dreams of wealth and dominion, but encountered resistance, instability, and shifting power,  which changed the mindset of a smooth and destined expansion into what they dreamed to be the new world.

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The Pilgrims and Puritans, arriving by boat in the early 1600s, became figures of the myths, often portrayed as settlers seeking religious freedom rather than wealth. Unlike the Virginia colonists labeled as materialistic adventurers, these settlers were idealized for their sacrifice, moral purpose, and utopian vision. Their journey by sea symbolized a sacred mission, reinforcing the narrative of American exceptionalism and positioning them as the spiritual “first Americans” in contrast to earlier, more contested arrivals like Columbus.

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The Pilgrims and Puritans, who came to New England by boat, are often seen as the start of American civilization. People used to think they were more moral than the settlers in Virginia because they came for religious freedom, and not money. But some now say they were strict, narrow-minded, and didn’t allow others the same freedom they wanted. Unlike the Virginia story, which includes Pocahontas, the New England story focused on male leaders, even though many women were part of the group. This shows that the early settlers’ stories were more complex than they first seemed.

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The Pilgrims and Puritans were two groups of English religious people who came to America by boat in the 1600s. They wanted to break away from the churches in England and start a new, holy community. The Pilgrims came in 1620 on the Mayflower and started Plymouth. The Puritans came in 1630 on the Arbella and started Boston. Even though they were different groups, they had similar beliefs and worked with each other. Like earlier settlers such as Columbus, they saw America as a new beginning, traveling across the ocean to build a better life based on their faith.

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This passage explains how the story of the Pilgrims and Puritans became a big part of the American origin myth. The Pilgrims (1620) and Puritans (1630) came by boat to build a new society in America. Over time, their  story grew from a small New England tale to a national myth. Just like Columbus and other early settlers, they were seen as brave travelers starting a new life, guided by faith and hope for a better future in the new world,

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In the 1500s and 1600s, European writers imagined the Americas as a place where perfect, utopian societies could exist.. So early settlers, like the Pilgrims and Puritans who came by boat, stopped looking for an already made utopia and decided to build their own. They saw North America as an “empty” land where they could create a new, perfect society based on their own beliefs.

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Columbus’s journey from 1492 to 1494 is seen as a major moment in history because it opened the way for Europeans to explore and settle in the Americas. At first, he was celebrated as a hero, especially in 1892. But by the 1990s, people began to see the harm his voyages caused, like the start of colonization and damage to native lands. Like the Pilgrims and Puritans who later came by boat, Columbus’s journey marked the beginning of big changes in the New World, though modern views now question the true impact of these early settlers.

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Columbus is now seen as part of a bigger picture, not just a genius who changed history. He was a man of his time, using the knowledge and skills of other explorers before him. Europe's expansion, from the Crusades to colonialism, built up over time, with Columbus being one of many who looked for new routes. The first settlers who arrived on boats were also part of this larger journey of exploration, searching for new lands and opportunities like Columbus did.

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By the 1480s, sailors from different parts of Europe had gained lots of knowledge about the Atlantic Ocean through trade. This led to more interest in exploring west, even before Columbus. He was part of a bigger group of explorers, not working alone. Europe already had strong trade networks, good sea travel skills, and support from governments and banks. These things helped them take big risks and sail far, just like the first settlers who came to America by boat, hoping to find new lands and better opportunities.

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While the Pilgrims story was mainly told by William Bradford, many Puritan leaders wrote about their experiences to show they were building a colony. When the Puritans came to America in 1630 on ships like the Arbella, led by John Winthrop, they became a major force in shaping New England. They believed they were doing God’s work, but not everyone agreed on what their new society should look like. Like earlier boat settlers, they saw America as a fresh start, but disagreements grew as their ideas changed in the new land.

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Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s founders and third president, saw the Bible story of Exodus as a powerful symbol for the new nation. He even wanted the U.S. seal to show the Israelites being led by God through the wilderness. Jefferson compared early Americans to the Israelites, guided by God to a land full of promise. This connected back to the Pilgrims and Puritans, who came by boat believing they were starting a holy journey. Their story became part of a larger American belief that their nation had a special, almost sacred purpose.