Final answer:
The group of settlers known as the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and established the Plymouth Colony in 1620. They are remembered for the signing of the Mayflower Compact and the first Thanksgiving feast, contributing to the early history of the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group of settlers who landed at Plymouth Rock are known as the Pilgrims. This term specifically refers to the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in 1620, who were part of a Puritan faction known as the Separatists. They initially sought asylum in the Dutch Republic to escape religious persecution in England but later chose to settle in the New World to retain their English identity and due to fears of Spanish attacks on the Dutch Republic.
Under the leadership of Governor William Bradford, the Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower, a voyage that led them to Cape Cod. The decision to settle at Plymouth was made after exploring the area and deemed it more suitable than their initial landing place. On December 23, 1620, the Pilgrims established the Plymouth Colony, which faced a brutal first winter much like James Jamestown. The colony was established with the signing of the Mayflower Compact, which is often viewed as a step towards democracy because of its cooperative and inclusive nature, stating an intention of forming a community and working together for the general good.
The legacy of the Pilgrims is celebrated in the United States through the national holiday of Thanksgiving, which is rooted in the feast held after their first successful harvest, but also involves mythologized accounts of their relationship with the Native American populations they encountered. Despite the hardships, the establishment of Plymouth Colony is a pivotal chapter in the early history of what would become the United States.