How Did William Bradford Influence Today

His journey starts in England, when he set off for America because of the dangers of being a pilgrim in England at the time. He set off for America in a ship called the Mayflower, and after many hard months at sea; Most of which led to disease and death,and after being blown off course his Pilgrims touched down in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Bradford's personal accounts, show us the hardships him and his Pilgrims faced with their first few years of Plymouth. One can see a message appear among Bradford's writing if they look closely. That message is to never give up, and the importance of teamwork as well as a good leader.

When looking at “Mourt’s Relation” and On Plymouth Plantation, the reader sees William Bradford’s perspective on the New World and the Native Americans that inhabited it. In 1622, when Bradford helped write “Mourt’s Relation,” he was encouraging people to join him and his group of Puritans to settle in the New World. Therefore, he describes it as “so goodly a land” and the harbor as one “wherein a thousand sail of ships may safely ride” (Bradford, Winslow 1). This is much different from his later writing in 1630 where he describes the New World as “a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men” (Bradford 1) Furthermore, this change Bradford’s account is because of the change of audience.

Being the first two well-known places in which the English would set out to colonize in 1607 and 1620, Jamestown, Virginia and Plymouth, Massachusetts hold very separate set of beliefs, standards, and outlooks on life then and the future to come. While paving the way for things such as slavery, taxes, ownership of land, inclusion of women, tobacco and government assemblies, John Smith and the people of Jamestown became a classical foundation for new life and economic growth for the new world that is, the United States. On the other hand, William Bradford and his people began to realize the intentions of the Church of England were unholy and had strayed away from God’s teachings from the Bible. With this in mind, the Pilgrims set on a voyage to the new world to seek religious freedom. As we know it, the Pilgrims sought for peace and a new way of living that was fair, just and free from religious corruptions.

John Smith and William Bradford were similar in many ways when it comes to both writing and experiences. In their stories, they both talked about how they encountered American Indians but the experiences were very different. They both also talked about how they came over to America and what life was like during that time. Bradford and Smith both agreed on the fact that they wanted the new land to be settled and inhabited; they wanted their land filled with good, hard working men.

The New Englanders took religion seriously, making unitary laws according to Puritan standards. John Winthrop, later chosen as the first Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, was seeking religious freedom. Wishing to inspire the colonists to dwell in brotherly unity, he summoned them together to remind them “that if we [colonists] shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.” On the other hand, those in the Chesapeake region came for the wealth that America promised. They were there to become prosperous or die trying.

When settlers first arrived on the Atlantic coast of North America, they encountered a terrain that stood in stark contrast to the European lands they had traveled from. Historian Alan Taylor highlights the difference between North America and Europe, writing that North America’s “‘wilderness’ contained both resources that were scarce at home and dangerous beings that had been exterminated further east.” These unknown resources and animals led to settlers feeling “threatened and often overmatched by their new environmental setting.” This fear of nature rampant among early settlers is found in the journals of William Bradford, a founder and later governor of the Plymouth Colony.

The values that early American writers considered most important were piety, courage, and industry. They were highly honored by the large Puritan population, and these values helped them survive the beginning of the colonies. Overtime, however, different values were stressed more than others. For example, in “Of Plymouth Plantation,” written around 1620, Bradford chooses to write about the piety, courage, and industry of all the settlers in his settlement. In 1630, Winthrop gave his sermon “A Model of Christian Charity,” and in it he motivates his audience using piety and industry as reasons to succeed.

William Bradford was present to many of the important developments in the New World. He signed the Mayflower Compact, he explored much of New England, and was Governor from 1621 to 1656. The History of Plymouth Plantation begins with the Separatists creation, the Reformation and Persecution, the Arrival and Removal of Holland, the Separatists voyage across the ocean and landing at Cape Cod, and goes through the hardships of the settlers as well. Bradford did not begin the transcript until 1630 and it was not published fully until 1856. For those reasons I believe, the purpose of writing the manuscript was for personal reasons; a type of therapy.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the monarchy began to expand their power and influence, eventually becoming absolute rulers. Having support from the merchant class, the monarchy attempted to unify and stabilize the nation states. In the late seventeenth, early eighteenth centuries, with hopes of expanding English trade and acquiring a broader market for English manufactured goods, the nation states were wealthy enough to fund voyages of discovery and exploration. Over time, ten colonies were established along the Atlantic coast of North America. The first permanent English settlement was established in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607 and in 1620 a ship landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, marking it as the second permanent English settlement.

Plymouth was founded in 1620, and led by William Bradford. William Bradford’s writing style was simple, and described the suffering and triumphs of the Pilgrims, as shown in his book, Of Plymouth Plantation. The Pilgrims created the Mayflower Compact, which was signed by all the male Pilgrims, in which they agreed to surrender their individual rights for the good of the community, and promised to obey rules and laws passed by elected representatives. This became the basis for the U.S. Constitution. The pilgrims depended on the Bible for setting up the government (31), based on Levitical Law.

Bradford’s religious Puritan views were very important to him and he wanted to make sure the people of New England would have a Puritan church so that they could practice their religion without interference from England because in England they were forced to be part of the Church of England. People such as Thomas Morton did not fancy to William Bradford. Morton’s Anglican ways, his dancing, drinking, and building of the Maypole made Bradford

He joined the Puritans. Reformers who wanted to purify the Church of England and separate from it. With other Puritans, he migrated to Holland in search of religious freedom. ” The quote is describing William Bradford, who was a Puritan who moved to Holland and established the colony of Plymouth for religious freedom.

The arrival of the first Europeans in the Americas is dramatically captured through the many writers who attempted to communicate what they saw, experienced and felt. What is more, the very purposes of their treacherous travel and colonization are clearly seen in their writings; whether it is poetry, history or sermons. Of the many literary pieces available today, William Bradford and John Winthrop’s writings, even though vary because the first is a historical account and the second is a sermon, stand out as presenting a clear trust in God, the rules that would govern them and the reason they have arrived in the Americas. First of all, William Bradford provides an in-depth look into the first moment when the Puritans arrived in the Americas. In fact, he chronicles the hardships they face on their way to Plymouth, yet he includes God’s provision every step of the way.

”The world runs on individuals pursuing their self interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn’t construct his theory under order from a, from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry that way.” Henry The Navigator was a very important figure throughout history because of what he did to support expeditions and how he teached people in many different fields to do the expeditions.

Both John Smith and William Bradford were Englishmen who came to America and helped to found the earliest colonies in New England. They came at different times and for different reasons. Both tell of events during these travels in their written accounts, but these accounts show that the two men, as well as their goals, were drastically different. Captain John Smith, considered to be the first American writer, came to America in the spring of 1607. He had many adventures prior to the voyage to New England, and thought quite highly of himself, as is clear in his writings.