Why were the first groups of settlers to the New World (the Pilgrims, not the Puritans) so woefully underprepared for their life there? They did...

Before their journey to Massachusetts, the pilgrims had secured financing from the Merchant Adventures, a group of Puritan businessmen interested in both making a profit and spreading their religion. They bought what they thought would be enough provisions and obtained passage on two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell. The Pilgrims had planned to to leave early in 1620 and arrive in the New World in early spring, enough time to plant crops for surviving the winter. However, difficulties dealing with the Merchant Adventurers, including several changes for the voyage and financing, resulted in a delay for several months. The Mayflower then had to rendezvous with the Speedwell. The two ships finally left from the the Netherlands in August, 1620. Unfortunately, the Speedwell proved unseaworthy, and headed back to port. Many passengers from it crowded on the already overburdened Mayflower. They intended to land near the Hudson River, but a storm pushed them south to Massachuetts. By then, it was already early winter and their provisions were dangerously low. Since they couldn't plant crops or build decent shelters in winter, as many as 50 percent of the people died that first winter.