Essay About The Difference Between Plymouth And Jamestown
Long before the Founding Fathers, European countries established settlements in the wilderness of the New World. During the 1600’s, English settlers founded Plymouth and Jamestown along the Eastern Coast of North America. Puritans established Plymouth to escape the Catholic Church of England. Aristocrats established Jamestown in search of profits. Both settlements dealt with unavoidable contact with the natives. Although both Plymouth and Jamestown’s interactions with Native Americans included early encounters, diplomatic intermediaries, and peace treaties, Plymouth’s approach differed from Jamestown by displaying less aggression. While both settlements had early interactions with Native Americans, they demonstrated different levels of aggression.
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Pocahontas, the favorite daughter of Chief Powhattan, acted as the intermediary for Jamestown. Pocahontas was kidnapped and held for a ransom demand of captured English prisoners and weapons (“Jamestown and the Indians: The First Decade.”). When the tribe refused to pay the ransom, she agreed to marry John Rolfe and take the name Rebecca to gain freedom (“Pocahontas.”). She played the role of diplomat and translator during negotiations with the Powhattan to obtain a truce that lasted until 1622 (“Pocahontas.”). Pocahontas traveled to England with Rolfe and was celebrated by the Virginia Company to promote their endeavors in the new world (“Pocahontas.”). The role Pocahontas played helped the English gain an advantage in interactions with the Natives but failed to diminish long term hostilities. In contrast, Massasoit acted as a voluntary intermediary with Plymouth. In 1620, Massasoit, wearing heavy red face paint and a beaded necklace, approached Plymouth accompanied by 60 of his men to trade food for small trinkets (“Massasoit.”). Massasoit and his tribe warned Plymouth of impending attacks from other tribes on several occasions, possibly saving Plymouth from defeat (“Massasoit.”). He even welcomed a starving religious renegade, Roger Williams, into his own house (“Massasoit.”). He acted as a main conduit between the English and Natives by signing a treaty, providing food, and seeking friendship (“Massasoit.”). Massasoit voluntarily facilitated a mutually beneficial relationship, but Pocahontas was forced to serve Jamestown at the expense of her own
Pocahontas, the favorite daughter of Chief Powhattan, acted as the intermediary for Jamestown. Pocahontas was kidnapped and held for a ransom demand of captured English prisoners and weapons (“Jamestown and the Indians: The First Decade.”). When the tribe refused to pay the ransom, she agreed to marry John Rolfe and take the name Rebecca to gain freedom (“Pocahontas.”). She played the role of diplomat and translator during negotiations with the Powhattan to obtain a truce that lasted until 1622 (“Pocahontas.”). Pocahontas traveled to England with Rolfe and was celebrated by the Virginia Company to promote their endeavors in the new world (“Pocahontas.”). The role Pocahontas played helped the English gain an advantage in interactions with the Natives but failed to diminish long term hostilities. In contrast, Massasoit acted as a voluntary intermediary with Plymouth. In 1620, Massasoit, wearing heavy red face paint and a beaded necklace, approached Plymouth accompanied by 60 of his men to trade food for small trinkets (“Massasoit.”). Massasoit and his tribe warned Plymouth of impending attacks from other tribes on several occasions, possibly saving Plymouth from defeat (“Massasoit.”). He even welcomed a starving religious renegade, Roger Williams, into his own house (“Massasoit.”). He acted as a main conduit between the English and Natives by signing a treaty, providing food, and seeking friendship (“Massasoit.”). Massasoit voluntarily facilitated a mutually beneficial relationship, but Pocahontas was forced to serve Jamestown at the expense of her own