Thesis: In his well-researched and interesting to read book Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War, Nathaniel Philbrick covers a span of 55 years of the Puritans voyage from Europe to North America and the at times symbiotic and often volatile relationship they develop with the Native Americans. It is the story of people whose actions and beliefs shaped the country that the United States became. Development: Everyone is biased to a certain degree in what they believe to have happened between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans due to a perpetuation of myths in the media and in the celebration of Thanksgiving itself. Using entries from the diaries of two of the original settlers William Bradford and Benjamin Church, Philbrick brings to life a story very different than the one grew up with. In the preface Philbrick tells us of his interest in the history of the time era and the search for answers while struggling with “conflicting preconceptions” of the period and the facts that his primary source research (the manuscripts of Bradford and Church) was revealing. The 480 page book is divided into four parts and uses a simple to follow, logical sequenced approach in retelling the events in an effort to separate myth from fact. Part 1: The Discovery: starts with the 65th day of the voyage of the Mayflower with 102 human passengers and 2 dogs on their way to the New World. Having withdrawn from the Church of England these people had stayed in Leiden, Holland for a period of 11 years, but the fear of their children losing their identity forces them to start over in a new land without any outside influence. The first third of the book covers the first year of the Pilgrims in the New World from their landing at Plymouth in 1... ... middle of paper ... ... it is easy to read and is friendlier to the lay person than most history books, it can be a resource for the amateur historian and layman who wishes to learn more about the period Philbrick has taken the time to research both Bradford and Edward diaries and the accounts from the letter sent back on the Fortune to England that gives us an account of the first thanksgiving. He uses both maps and pictures to help the reader appreciate the distances covered and the territories involved putting the bigger picture into perspective. By the end of the book we realize that factual history can have more twists and turns than a crime novel. Myth distorts history and it is a historian’s job to separate fact from fiction, for historians it would be a good send to book for someone wishing to know more about the time period yet not want to study the primary sources themselves.
The extend of most American’s knowledge of early America is of Columbus’ discovery of America for Europe in 1492 and the landing of the Mayflower in Plymouth in 1620. This was true of A Voyage Long and Strange author, Tony Horwitz. Horwitz felt as if there were pieces missing in his picture of early America and set out on a journey that spanned from Canada to the Dominican Republic. The novel starts out with a prologue of Horwitz talking about his own reasons for wanting to learn more of early America and then is broken into three sections Discovery, Conquest, and Settlement. Each section discusses another period in early American history starting with first contact in Vinland and ending with the landing in Plymouth.
Part of the book that caught my interest was the maps included in the chapters. It was really helpful for readers who were unfamiliar with the territory Gump was discussing. As the areas changed over time it helped me follow how they changed and which territories belonged to whom. Gump uses the different maps to show the differences of each territory without having to look at the text and allowing readers to easily access the maps.
Nathaniel Philbrick tells the story of the Pilgrims, beginning with them breaking away from the Church of England, emigrating to Holland, and eventually to America on the Mayflower. He talks about the relationship they had with the "Strangers" or nonbelievers that accompanied them on their adventure. He tells stories about disease, death, deception, and depression. I had never thought about it, but you know some of those people had to be suffering from depression. He tells of joys but mostly of hardships and as he describes some of the first meetings with the Native Americans. His description of the first Thanksgiving is not the same as the pictures I have seen all of my life.
Edward, Rebecca and Henretta, James and Self, Robert. America A Concise History. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2012.
A Declaration in 1622 is a piece of history that will forever be debated. It was written by Edward Waterhouse who was a prominent Virginia official. In a Declaration in 1622, he describes his first-hand accounts of English genocide and the relationship between the Powhatan and settlers. The point of this paper is to claim that Waterhouse’s portrayal is realistic due to his factual perspective of the time period on the contrasting aspects of the Powhatan and settlers. Diving into Edwards historical accounts can show the hardships of the settlers, the varying characteristics of both groups, the importance of tobacco, and the demonization of Native Americans. The characteristics will conclude the factually sound delineation of Edward Waterhouse.
Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford gives us an insight into the endurance of the early settlers and the kind of pain they went through in order build the foundation of our great nation. They embarked on the new world and developed a colony from the ground up. However, there troubles started long before they even stepped foot on the land. With a strong hold on their religious beliefs, they continued their voyage to the new world even though there were questions about the safety of the vessel. They managed to work hard on the ship and make it to the new world, tired and hungry, only to learn that there was no rest to be found, but even more work.
Often when looking at American history, people tend to lump all the characters and actors involved as similar. This is especially the case in regards to Early American Colonial history. Because the Puritan communities that grew rapidly after John Winthrop’s arrival in 1630 often overshadow the earlier colony at Plymouth, many are lead to assume that all settlers acted in similar ways with regard to land use, religion, and law. By analyzing the writings of William Bradford and John Winthrop, one begins to see differing pictures of colonization in New England.
The Pilgrims found themselves in a harsh new environment. In the middle of winter, they slowly built a settlement at the site of an abandoned Pawtuxet Indian village. Not used to hunting or fishing, they struggled to find food. Many were starving. The future looked bleak.
Dear Samson this is Royce, in good faith, who apologizes for such a sinful delay from your last letter. That letter bestowed a whole hearted warmth upon me, a warmth I cannot say the voyage to the New World has brought. Recalling the influence of religious freedom which had urged me to strive towards this New World has pursued a bittersweet arrival. My brethren and I have prayed for different, blessed lands, yet, Cape Cod stared wildly and callously upon my optimism. Before our arrival, half of our ship’s men were plagued by scurvy and disease. Whether one death on the ship is fortunate or unfortunate (Of Plymouth Plantation, Page 7), a poor man was starved, killed and thrown over the Mayflower’s sides (Of Plymouth Plantation, page 5). Nevertheless, the Mayflower continued miles across the stormy seas (Of Plymouth Plantation, Page 8) I prayed for relief and the holiness of our arrival could not be expressed with prayer. Father would probably laugh at my pessimism. I know at times I seem like a pessimist but, deny me not that the voyage was horrible. While it was mostly terrible, during the voyage to the New World a woman did welcome a lovely child that was gifted the name “Oceanus” (Plymouth Plantation Video). For me, Oceanus symbolized a marvelous
After reading chapter three of Unger's American Issues, I now have a better understanding of how English settlers looked upon the lifestyles of the Native Americans. Four key people that have led to this understanding are Hugh Jones, Hugh Henry Brackenridge, William Penn, and John Heckewelder. In their essay's they give accurate accounts of how the Native Americans lived, through their eyes. I also see how European beliefs reflected their views and how this set the stage for conflict among these groups.
Born in Austerfield England in 1590, William Bradford, orphaned at an early age, raised by several relatives, and with no formal education, became one of the most influential men of the original American Colonists, and is credited as the “Father of American history,” with his diaries of the Pilgrims’ journey and struggles to America. “Of Plymouth Plantation” the journals of William Bradford are still one of the major resources used for historians for this time in history. (Schoenberg, 2001)
In the New World Bradford and Morton were both important men of our history. The stories of both great men give us an insight into the way religion and influence affected Puritan life.
In “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson,” Mary Rowlandson, a Puritan mother from Lancaster, Massachusetts, recounts the invasion of her town by Indians in 1676 during “King Philip’s War,” when the Indians attempted to regain their tribal lands. She describes the period of time where she is held under captivity by the Indians, and the dire circumstances under which she lives. During these terrible weeks, Mary Rowlandson deals with the death of her youngest child, the absence of her Christian family and friends, the terrible conditions that she must survive, and her struggle to maintain her faith in God. She also learns how to cope with the Indians amongst whom she lives, which causes her attitude towards them to undergo several changes. At first, she is utterly appalled by their lifestyle and actions, but as time passes she grows dependent upon them, and by the end of her captivity, she almost admires their ability to survive the harshest times with a very minimal amount of possessions and resources. Despite her growing awe of the Indian lifestyle, her attitude towards them always maintains a view that they are the “enemy.”
In “ A Description of New England ”, Smith starts by describing the pleasure and content that risking your life for getting your own piece of land brings to men. On the other hand, Bradford reminds us how harsh and difficult the trip to the New World was for the p...
I think that this narrative is important for us to read in order to understand the mind-sets of the colonists and the Indians at the time of King Philip’s War. I believe that it is an excellent source, and really allows the reader to get a peak at what life was like during the 17th century. I also think that it is amazing that she is the second “American” woman to write and publish a book, and it is interesting to see how strong she was to preserve her own life in such an unfamiliar and “uncivilized” situation.