The first successful English venture in America was at Jamestown in Virginia in the year 1607. Within a few decades, more colonies would be established, including two further north, Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. All of these colonies were lead by men who were successful enough to succeed into the pages of early American History. But where these men and their missions similar According to the information they left us, no.
First, one needs to look at these successful men. John Smith was an explorer who was looking to profit from his venture to Virginia. This trip was not his first maritime experience and he did not expect it to be his last. He was said to be mischievous, not the best leader, and was even held captive on his own ship for part of the journey. John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony appears to have been the opposite of Smith. Extremely religious, he attempted to live his life as close to the laws of Christianity as possible. He was said to have been the terror of the wicked and the delight of the sober He joined the venture to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with plans to continue living piously and spread the gospel. William Bradford, the second governor of Plymouth, left a well-documented account of the founding and first years of the colony. Bradford did not include much personal information in his journals, but as a Puritan, his writing reflects his sincere devotion to God. Each entry in his diary credits God for any fortunate event, from saving the ship during a storm to good weather and a few hours of much needed rest. From all accounts, it is obvious that the three men believe in God but at various levels. Bradford knew he was pleasing the Lord, Winthrop wanted to please the Lord, and Smith seemed pleased that the Lord was merciful towards him.
Beyond the men leading the colonies, the colonies themselves must be analyzed. Jamestown was always a business venture, something the king of England encouraged. The men settling Jamestown were laborers, not looking for a better life or even survival. They depended on the hired ships to see to their needs and once the ships left Jamestown, the men struggled to survive. Smith recorded that due to the lack of provisions, conditions and weather, the men were as miserable in this new place as they were in their native country.
The survival experiences of Smith and the other settlers of Jamestown compare somewhat with Bradfords account at Plymouth. Bradford wrote that while the first summer in the colony was plentiful, many people had already died during the winter of 1621, not just of present conditions, but from diseases contracted abroad the Mayflower. Of the people who survived, most were quite ill and only a few men were healthy enough to really be useful. But the few healthy men were remembered as being greatly resourceful, gathering wood and other necessities, and without complaint. This account of Bradfords differs from Smiths, which does not make mention of the Jamestown colonists being so supportive of each other. This comparison reflects that the colonists at Plymouth had made the journey to the New World for freedom, not for profit.
The colony of Massachusetts Bay was slightly different from the others. In the charter, it was not specified that the governors needed to meet in England, thus the king accidentally allowed an autonomous nation to be formed. From the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the hope was that people would be living a true Christian life, and one of the main tenets was that it was better to give then receive. The people were encouraged to live collectively and doing so, they would remain in Gods favor.
The people of Plymouth were also encouraged to live collectively and at first widely accepted. But once the colony became more established and Bradford noticed the need for more corn, some of the settlers began to express grievances of collective life. The stronger men were resentful for having to work harder than others, older men felt disrespected, and women did not want to work for men other than their husbands. There was no other option, so the people of Plymouth continued to work together and Bradford considered this a sign that they were in fact men, and was thankful for their religious conviction, for without it they may have been worse.
Another experience in which all three colonies differed greatly was their interaction with the native people. After local Indians captured John Smith, he spent several weeks as a captive. Earlier in the settlement, Indians had come to the aid of the men when it was desperately needed. Smith worked and feared for his life until the emperor Powhatan finally released him as a friend. In Plymouth, the colonists immediately noticed Indians and after six months of little to no interaction, an Indian named Samoset introduced himself and another English speaking Indian, Squanto. A peace treaty was signed and the Indians helped the colonists acclimate to the area. Bradford saw these Indians as a gift from God, because without them, they would not have survived. Winthrop does not mention Indians in his writings.
All of the colonies shared common similarities of the day. The people were frustrated and tired, but persevered towards the goals they each had set before landing in the new world. Strength, patience, and wisdom were all required for survival. And survive they did, despite all differences and difficulties, and are remembered as the beginning of America.
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