Essay Compare And Contrast William Bradford And John Smith

In the late 1500’s through the early 1600’s was when the first settlers came to what we know now as the United States. The first voyage was written by a captain by the name of John Smith and his view of making Jamestown. The voyage after was written by William Bradford which writes about his experience while they were establishing the Plymouth Plantation. Both men have many problems to face for example,”Being thus left to our fortunes, it fortuned that within ten days, scarce ten amongst us could either go or well stand, such extreme weakness and sickness oppressed us”(Smith 72). John Smith was already experiencing problems within the first ten days which you could imagine can only get worse from there. William Bradford which wrote about the

Plymouth plantation was facing problems just as bad,”In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail…”(Bradford 79). Just on the way Bradford and his crew had to face storms which put everyone's life at risk and in the hands of gods.
Both John Smith and William Bradford wrote about their experiences and both had many similarities and many differences, but in the end each were impactful on looking for more land and helping establish what we know now as the United States.

John Smith wrote his experience basically all about him and what he did and what he saw. While John Smith was on the way to what is called Jamestown he had to witness extreme weakness and sickness being passed on the ship within the first ten days. Arriving there and living there didn’t make his life any easier. It just got worse and worse as days past. Also, it didn't really help since it was all men and they just wanted to fend for themselves. So basically if you were sick everyone would just leave you to pretty much die. The first winter at Jamestown was a total disaster losing more than half the men. Also, they were constantly attacked by the Algonquin Indians at one point they captured Captain John Smith. Since Captain John Smith wrote he made it seem like he took out multiple tribe members and basically let them capture

him.
After, the capturing of John Smith he was going to be executed until the chief’s daughter intervened. Just because of that action of the chief’s daughter came the love story that we know as Pocahontas. The chief let Smith live and Smith took that for a chance to show the tribe what kind of technology he has and to show it off. During the time he lived with the Algonquin Indians he was made the subordinate chief and then was released four weeks later.
William Bradford wrote his story on the voyage to the Plymouth Plantation and what he experienced during that time.

To start it off his voyage contained a good amount of men and women. During the voyage they were going through extreme weather including many storms. One man by the name John Howland was thrown overboard, but managed to grab a rope to save his life. William Bradford consisted of puritans which would always help each other through the worst of problems. They believe that god decides what happens to them so they try to be good so god does not take their life. For the good deeds the puritans would care for the sick if they were not sick. The sailors on the other hand didn’t care for the sick and would just carry on, but when they were sick and they needed help they would get the help because the puritans aren’t those kind of people who hold a grudge. After the sailors get better they tend to change and become a puritan

themselves.
Between John Smith and William Bradford there was many differences and many similarities. They way John Smith wrote was all about himself and boasted about himself. On Bradford’s end he talked about everyone and what was going on with the group. Also, John Smith didn’t have a good relation with the Natives at first while William Bradford had a nice peaceful relationship throughout the voyage.
Even though both John Smith and William Bradford had a difficult time with the voyages they both managed to fight pass and finished whatever they were there to do which was to make a settlement. Now thanks to them we have established so many places and can call the United States our home. Between the two groups I would want to be apart of the Plymouth Plantation voyage due to the fact that some people cared for eachother. I myself care for other people and want to help them with whatever they need. I wouldn’t want to be with John Smith and all the ignorant and selfish men.