The Pilgrims were radical Christian Protestants from England who faced persecution from the English government. They first fled to Holland for religious freedom but decided to leave for America when Dutch life began to corrupt them. The Pilgrims intended to land near present-day New York but ended up landing in Plymouth due to getting lost at sea. Over half of the Pilgrims died during their first winter in Plymouth due to harsh conditions, but in subsequent seasons they were able to plant crops and build homes with the help of the Wampanoag people, including Squanto. In the fall, the Pilgrims and Wampanoags had a three-day feast that is now known as the First Thanksgiving.