2022nathanhuizing 2022nathanhuizing 15-02-2022 Social Studies contestada What major problem did the leaders of the Mayflower face when first settling on the land? They were outside of the jurisdiction of any rule and feared failure as a colony. The local soil was too rocky for the Pilgrims to practice agriculture. Too many men died on the voyage leaving only a handful to help till and sew fields. The land was inhabited by local Native Americans who refused to leave.