What Is The Difference Between William Bradford And John Smith

Native Americans have always received the short end of the stick in history, when the colonialist came to what is now known as America, the people of the land where shown in a different light. They became the stories of terror and fear for the colonist to be afraid of, however this was not done in one night know this spans over a time of great explores and those who became American literalness, those who detailed history in documents and trades. Using works from John smith and William Bradford in their tales and encounters with Indians, the light and representation of the natives might become clear.

Both authors had completely different experiences during their times in the new-found land. Following John Smith case, in his writing
he covered the experiences with the natives and how the future of England depended on building trust with the natives, so that the first colonies could prosper and investors will grow as time goes on. The site that required the most success was James town seeing as it was the one of the biggest settlements. However, great turmoil could be seen over the site as James town was located severely close to the natives. This lead to trade with the natives for land, food, utilities, and their knowledge. For John Smith, the trading with natives became essential to living off the land, due to the land being swampy and the soil dry. The natives had to teach the colonist how to use dead fish and feces to grow tobacco plants and cotton.

Relations between the natives and Smith group came into conflict after one of the men’s son gets murdered, internal conflict come’s about, as the father attempted an assassination on the chief of the natives.
As the conflict continued John Smith was taken from home, and captured with little
resistance.

This is where the author really shows the difference between white man and native American’s.
In John Smiths writing the Indians would not release him to fetch water nor supplies to help the natives. Most would interpret these denials as signs of savages with no code of honor. Which in retrospect to the time from a modern point of view would seem like pure disaster for the English to move more people over sea’s. However, this works in their favor since later we are introduced to Pocahontas, the chiefs thirteen-year-old daughter, who ends up marring John smith who is in his fifty’s and brings her back to England as a form of forming ties with the natives.

Johns smiths work truly shows the struggle and differences between establishing Jamestown and getting along with the natives. In both works from John smith and William Bradford, the reader receives the tone and importance of each meet, however William Bradford creates one of the more memorable encounters with his writing. Along with his voyage with the Mayflower, the meaning of separation from the church as separatist, and the coming of Thanks Giving.

Bradford’s separation from the church lead to one of the many great voyages recorded in history. The voyage of the Mayflower, the Pinto, and the Maria. This great voyage was in deeded to be add after many joining forces separated from the church and when to America to find a new home where they could be free as their god
intended.

The landing of the Mayflower, and beginning of Plymouth, lead to the mixture of native Americans with the separatist. However, before much could be achieved hardships and many deaths came fast and swift. In Bradford’s writing, much can be inferred that the struggle to arrive on the shores of the promise land was harsh. “being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind” (p. 50). After the arrival the hardest part came, that blew over all the suffering of life and pain as they had already felt. Winter was coming, and it was approaching fast.

In the beginning of the settlement from the Mayflower, the first meet with natives was rough and hard. Due to the fact of the pilgrims as they are now called, are new to the people and the area that surrounds them. “but the people were run away and could not be seen” (p. 55). As time went on for the pilgrims, death and winter finally caught up for the people who seemed to be left. During the time of winter only a hand full of houses were built and crops that had been planted died, people starved and family names perished over the next few months.

In this time of horrible pain and suffering all that could be done is prey to their god, which they traveled so far to be with and enjoy in their own way. One also needs to imagine the fear reason of native Americans being around them always, the pressure that is put on the mind is kicked into overdrive, causing more than needed struggles. Unlike John’s encounter with the natives, Bradford was in wait every moment, and that moment finally came for them as time went on.

Bam, cross fire came into play as the most dreaded moment arrived, natives and the pilgrims fought one after another for what could have seemed like centuries. The dust settled and the pilgrims cheered as they finally had supplies and other goods, to use for the rest of the winter and to send back home.

This masseur while full of triumph, leaves a taste of sour pout in one’s mind, yes, the pilgrims obtained their first victory in the new world, and yet the relationship with the natives became one of unease and dangerous lust for vengeance, for the dead loved ones. Bradford’s group decided to leave for more supplies then come back and finally settle where they had achieved the first victory to their church and to god.