Hello and welcome to a history of the United States.

Episode 26. Alone again, naturally.

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On March 23, 1623, it was time for a town meeting in the annual elections. Bradford explained the situation to the citizens of Plymouth. They,

and the neighbouring colony of Wessert were in grave danger.

There was a vast conspiracy of the Native American tribes in the region to destroy them.

And Bradford made the case that if they wanted to survive, then they would need to make the first move.

The pilgrims were not comfortable at all with this suggestion. The Indians had been hospitable to them, and they didn't want to attack

unless they were assaulted first. But they valued Massasoit's advice. He warned them that the first news they would hear of aggression

would be the destruction of Wessigusset, so they would need to move before that happened.

The plan of action was endorsed, and Bradford had his authority to make war. This, at least, is how the

pilgrims tell the story. I mentioned last week that I'm skeptical. The pilgrims insist on their

jovial relationship with the Indians, and that the attack was entirely down to the behaviour of Wester Gusset.

But this really doesn't make sense. There have been skirmishes and fights between the pilgrims and

the Indians from as soon as they landed. The threat of attack has always been there, so I'm not

satisfied with the explanation that this was a sudden break in relations.

Something must have been going on. Likewise, if it was just Wessoghusset that was the problem,

and the Massachusetts really didn't want to attack or provoke Plymouth, you get the feeling

...