American History

It is fascinating to note just how different the experiences of the inhabitants of  Americas first colonies were.  Indeed, the people who first came to Jamestown, Plymouth and Boston respectively, were not only very dissimilar to each other as groups, they also were also often made up of a diverse membership, trying to find some commonality in order to thrive, or even just to survive.  However, by examining each as a unit, and taking into consideration what made each colonizing group both unique and similar to the others in regards to their nature, their goals and their successes and failures, it may be possible to recreate a sense of what life must have been like for some of the early Americans.

First, in looking at the nature of each of the colonies, what jumps out is the significant difference that both time and geographical factors made to each groups individual experience.   The settlement of Jamestown, as recounted by Captain John Smith, seems vastly more raw, chaotic and wild than the experience at Plymouth and Boston, for example.  Plymouth appears slightly more orderly than Jamestown, in comparison, while the Bostonian colony is governed by such powerful religious doctrine, as to have left little room for any lack of discipline.  Perhaps the sense of Jamestown as a more wild and unsettled colony stems from the fact that its residents were less pious than the other two colonies.  Additionally, the settlement of Jamestown preceded the story of the other colonies by some years, and the subsequent colonizers had the possible benefit of learning from Jamestowns hard-learned errors. The difference in the nature of the three colonies may also have to do with location and chance, especially when it came to conflict with the indigenous peoples.  While the accounts of both the settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth mention conflict with Native Americans, this was far less of a concern for the Bostonian settlers.

Each of the three colonies also differed greatly in their original goals.  The Jamestown settlers were highly motivated by a spirit of adventure and conquering of untamed territory.  In John Smiths account of the ships journey to Virginia, the reader gets the sense that on board is a rag-tag group of rascals, very raucous and mischievous.  In fact, Smith says of his shipmates that a few were little better than atheists. The Jamestown settlers primary goals, beyond the distinction of just founding a new colony, is deeply rooted in simple desires like adventure and survival.  By contrast, the settlers of Plymouth, seem to be far more motivated by practical concerns. As William Bradford,  a Puritan Separatist leader of Plymouth recounts, the settlers quickly engaged in practical treaties with the indigenous peoples and created as set of workable rules to regulate farming, harvesting and marriage. Perhaps the easiest way to classify the goals of the Plymouth settlers would be say they were very pragmatic and mindful of forging a sustainable community.  But, if the goals of Plymouths new residents were practical, the ambitions of Bostons first settlers would have to be described as devotional and even divine, since all their efforts were done in the name and service of God.  Governor John Winthrops oration, supposedly shared aboard the ship which took the pious settlers to their new home, recounts an ambition for the prosperity of the new Bostonian settlement which revolves around biblical references and pledge of faith and godliness  to one another.

The respective successes and failures of each of the three colonies hinged on a number of factors.  For the settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth, a good argument could be made that much of their success was due to fortuitous interaction with Native American peoples.  While both colonies had violent clashes with the indigenous, it was also American Indians who provided them (both accidentally and unknowingly) with food, translation services and territorial guidance at key times in their settlement. Had it not been for the intervention of Pocahontas, fore example, Captain John Smith might not have lived to write his account.  He claims, in his account, that she begged for his life when he was at the point of being murdered by his Indian captors, and later even brings him the food and nourishment which keep him from starving prior to his release.  Similarly, had it not been for the aid of an English speaking Indian name Sguanto, the residents of Plymouth may have not secured a treaty with their native foes which kept them from serious harm.   For the residents of Boston, however, the tenets of Christianity were what held their fragile community together.  Using the scriptures to appeal to residents sense of brotherhood and generosity, leaders of the Boston settlement were able to encourage a practical  cooperation and sharing of goods which fostered the survival of the group as a whole.   Winthrop uses his bully pulpit, as one of the respected Puritan founders of the Boston settlement, to urge its membership to share provisions, lend each other goods and services and even forgive debts, when the borrower does not have the means to pay.  Beyond the physical necessities of food and shelter, this Christian message of brotherhood also served to reduce some of the destructive hostilities and rancor that were seen in the settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth.  In Boston, having the bible and the good Lord around, became very good business in the practical matter of creating the harmony and success of the settlement.

While each of the settlement may have differed in how they related to each other, the terrain and the local indigenous peoples, there is a thread of the American spirit of curiosity and fortitude in each story. One wonders if there isnt something common in the character of a person who would be willing to start life over in a new land, full of dangers and the unknown, which might be at the core of  American identity even now.