Jamestown And Plymouth Compare And Contrast

Although the English were not the first Europeans to explore or colonize North America, their settlements along the Eastern seaboard became the thirteen colonies that later formed the United States. England relied on private trading companies to establish a presence in North America. Two of these groups, the Virginia Company was the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. “ The Jamestown colony was modeled after a military expedition, transplanting about 100 hardy Englishmen into the Virginia…”(Smith 3). And the voyage of the Mayflower, bringing people to Plymouth, Massachusetts.” ...1620-1647 describes this journey and provides a glimpse of the settler's life in what became New England.” (Bradford 5). Jamestown and Plymouth

were the first two successful English colonies in North America in roughly the same time period. These two colonies were different, yet had a number of similarities in Government, reasons for settlements. Jamestown and Plymouth had many similarities.
Jamestown was the first English permanent settlement in North America. Jamestown is located in what is now Virginia. The first leader of this journey was the Captain John Smith. He became interested in the efforts of establishing a colony in North America. After that the Joint Stock Company set sail in December of 1606, founded this colony and landed in April 1607. The journey began experiencing difficulties with weather conditions. But they needed to deal with this environmental struggle by the poor equipped. “ While the ships stayed, our allowance was somewhat battered by a daily proportion of biscuit which sailors would pilfer to sell,give,... .But when they departed, there remained neither tavern, beer-house, nor place of relief, but the common kettle.” (Smith 3). They had spread of the disease made life harder. “...scarce ten amongst us could either go or well stand, such as extreme weakness and sickness oppressed up.” (Smith 3). Not only this, John Smith was not a good guy. He was very selfish and boastful. “...our President [Edward Wingfield] would never have been admitted [to sainthood] for engrossing to his private, oatmeal, sack, oil, aqua vitae, beef, eggs,...”, “...himself always bearing the greatest task for his own share, so that in the short time he provided most of them lodgings, neglecting any foe himself…” (Smith 3 and 4). They were Inexperience, unwillingness to work, and the lack of wilderness survival skills led to bickering, disagreements, and inaction.
All people in this journey were men. They were also the higher class and tradesmen. Because they were the Business Ventures. The major reason which brought them in here was money. They wanted to come here to grow tobacco. It’s the reason why there are conflicts between them and the American Indians. Their relationship with the Indians was good at first, in fact the Indians helped them survive during their first winter; taught them how to plant corn, and were generally helpful though not altogether friendly. The relationship soon went downhill as the colony grew and more land was needed to cultivate tobacco. The colonists tended to confiscate Indian lands and blamed any resistance on the Indians. They faced with the starving time. Because they hunted gold instead of planting crops. So Captain John Smith said “Don’t work, don’t eat”.So they must work or they didn’t have anything to eat. Then once time Captain John Smith was captured by the Powhatan’s people. Lucky, Pocahontas who is the daughter of the Powhatan’s King appealed to her father to spare John Smith.”then as many as could, laid hands on him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head and being ready with their clubs to beat out his brain, Pocahontas, the King’s dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms and laid her own upon his to save him from death,...” (Smith 8). Smith released the Jamestown. But after the long winter, John Rolfe revived the colony. John Rolfe introduced tobacco from West Indies and it became Virginia’s first profitable export.
Plymouth was also the successful colony in North America. Plymouth now is known as the Massachusetts. The leader of this voyage was William Bradford, who was one of the hardy band who came to Plymouth on the Mayflower and who served as governor of that colony for thirty-three years. He could hold the position of his whole life. Plymouth provided good anchorage and an excellent harbor. Cold climate and thin, rocky soil limited farm size. New Englanders turned to lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing and trade. The people were going on this voyage is the Puritans. They did not agree with the Church of England. So they wanted to separate from it that the reason they founded a new land to live where they had their own religion. They believed that the Church wasn’t reformed enough. It contained too many Roman Catholic rituals. They thought that God will help them. Because they are Predestination. Every thing happened to them God knows and God will protect themselves. “And I may not omit here a special work of God’ providence.”, But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner,...”, “ So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.” (Bradford 5 and 6). In November 1620, the Mayflower Pilgrims founded Plymouth.
Most of them are families so they are interested in and care for each other, but they're having more trouble. Because they were lower class and minister. So they did not have well equipped to deal with the environmental struggles. “... cross winds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was shrewdly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main beams in the midships was bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the ship could not be able to perform the voyage.” (Bradford 6). The Mayflower Compact established its government and help their own rules. “ ...by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.” (Bradford 14). No time to plant crops or establish proper homes before winter and about half died from starvation or exposure to the elements. “ But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months’ time half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases…” (Bradford 15). Squanto, who was the Native American taught them how to plant corn, squash, pumpkins,and where to fish and hunt. “ He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died.” ( Bradford 18). Economy developed around trade in fish and furs. Sandy rocky soil made agriculture difficult, but basic crops were grown successfully.

Jamestown and Plymouth colonies were the record of the colonists.

Jamestown was written by John Smith. Plymouth was written by William Bradford in 1630 and end in the year 1646 because of his death. Both stories about Jamestown and Plymouth were the journals of the two captains which they recorded all the details in the period sailing and living in the new land in North America. The people in two journey also had the hardest time. They faced with the Starvation Times. Because they were Inexperience, unwillingness to work, and the lack of wilderness survival skills. In Jamestown they just grew tobacco and forgot to plant food. On the other hand, in Plymouth, because of hunger, disease, environmental hazards. So they needed help from the Indians. That the reason why we celebrate Thanksgiving to remember the gratefulness of the Native Americans to save our lives. On December 4, 1619 settlers stepped ashore at Berkeley Hundred along the James River and, in accordance with the proprietor's instruction that "the day of our ship's arrival ... shall be yearly and perpetually kept as a day of thanksgiving," celebrated the first official Thanksgiving Day. Some erroneously believe John Smith married Pocahontas . In actuality, she married John Rolfe, an Englishman who started the tobacco industry in Virginia. The John Smith connection stems from Smith's later writings relating an incidence of Pocahontas saving his life. The first representative legislative assembly in the New World

met at the Jamestown church. It was here that our American heritage of representative government was born. Since New England was outside the jurisdiction of Virginia's government, the Pilgrims established a self-governing agreement on their own, the "Mayflower Compact." It is the first step to relate the United States of America today.
The growth and development of these two English colonies, though geographically separated, contributed much to our present American heritage of law, religion, government, custom and language.

Both Jamestown and Plymouth are the part of our history, part of our life. However, they have so many different things between them. But that is the way we build our country. The country which always respects yourself. You have freedom of speech, freedom of religions. There are some conflict between Modern Americans and Native Americans. But It should decrease day by day. If I choose one company to go with, I would choose the Second Group to go to Plymouth. Because I am not recommending to grow tobacco to earn money. And the most significant. Although there are many points are not equivalent, but now we have got a strong country with one of the biggest army in the world. The reason to go with William Bradford, we can find our religion freely. The special thing which we get right now is the freedom of each person and a powerful

country.