Nevertheless, the Plymouth colony was always an example to its neighbors for thrift, economy, and integrity, and it influenced to industry by proving what might be done on a barren soil. Its chief claim to historical importance rests, of course, on the fact that, as the first successful colony on the New England coast, it was the cause and beginning of the establishment of the other colonies of New England, and the second step in founding the great republic of the United States.
[Footnote 1: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 112.]
[Footnote 2: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 114-117.]
[Footnote 3: Mass. Hist. Soc., _Collections_, 4th series, II., 158-163.]
[Footnote 4: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 130-133; Winslow, "Relation," in Young, _Chronicles of the Pilgrims_, 280-284.]
[Footnote 5: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 149-168; _Cal. of State Pap., Col._, 1574-1660, p. 40.]
[Footnote 6: Gorges, _Description of New England_ (Mass. Hist. Soc., _Collections_, 3d series, VI., 80).]
[Footnote 7: _Cal. of State Pap., Col._, 1574-1660, p. 33.]
[Footnote 8: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 170.]
[Footnote 9: Maine Hist. Soc., _Collections_, 2d. series, VII., 73-76.]
[Footnote 10: Adams, _Three Episodes of Mass. Hist._, I., 152.]
[Footnote 11: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 238.]
[Footnote 12: Palfrey, _New England_, I., 222, 285.]
[Footnote 13: Hubbard, _New England_ (Mass. Hist. Soc., _Collections_, 2d series, VI., 110).]
[Footnote 14: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 237; _Planters' Plea_ (Force, _Tracts_, II., No. iii.).]
[Footnote 15: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 237-258.]
[Footnote 17: Hazard, _State Papers_, I., 298.]
[Footnote 18: Bradford, _Letter-Book_ (Mass. Hist. Soc., _Collections_, 1st series, III., 63); _Plimoth Plantation_, 284-292.]
[Footnote 19: Bradford, _Letter-Book_ (Mass. Hist. Soc., _Collections_, 1st series, III., 53).]
[Footnote 20: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 350.]
[Footnote 21: Winthrop, _New England_, I., 139.]
[Footnote 22: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 395-401.]
[Footnote 23: _Plymouth Col. Records_, I., 133.]
[Footnote 24: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 437-444.]
[Footnote 25: Palfrey, _New England_, I., 223, II., 6; Hazard, _State Papers_, I., 300.]
[Footnote 26: Bradford, _Plimoth Plantation_, 459.]