First American Settlers

First Settlers

During the 18th century two cultures that emerged were the Plymouth Colony and Jamestown. Plymouth Colony, "ship landed on the shores of Cape Cod, in present-day Massachusetts, two months later, and in late December anchored at Plymouth Rock, where they would form the first permanent settlement of Europeans, in New England" according to History.com. The people of Jamestown, "founded the first permanent English settlement in North America on the banks of the James River" according to History.com. This research paper covers the details about the two cultures that developed as well as the primary difference between the two cultures.

Plymouth Colony

Plymouth Colony was established in 1620 by a group of Separatists and Anglicans, later called the Pilgrims. The interesting part about the people who found the Plymouth Colony is that unlike the entrepreneurs who found Jamestown. The Pilgrims came to America for religious freedom. The Pilgrims became successful with growing corn, through the help of the Native Americans, but they were also lucrative with fishing and trading. Unlike the people of Jamestown the Pilgrims purchased their lands instead of seizing it. Both the people of Jamestown and the people of Plymouth suffered through sickness, hunger and death the first couple of years after settling.

Jamestown

The people of Jamestown settled there on May 14, 1607. This was the first permanent settlement in America and it almost didn't make it in the first couple years due to fighting, disease, famine and conflict with the Native Americans. Growing tobacco was the primary source of income. The type of people who settled to the area were usually indentured servants and / or later on slaves. This area was mostly people from Spain while in Plymouth Colony it was most English.

Interesting Points

The part I found most interesting between the two colonies is that at some point they each relied on the help of the Native Americans to survive life but also to earn a living through the lands. Both groups of people relied on the land, but how they lived were different. The northern people were more about family and lived longer lives. While in the south they led difficult lives and died from sickness and disease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the types of people that settled in the two areas were so varying, from how they lived to their religions. The group at Jamestown was driven by earning money and the group that came to Plymouth were seeking religious freedoms. It was said that the Pilgrims were so happy when they arrived in the Massachusetts that they kissed the ground and said thanks. The family structure and how people lived in the north was different than the south. The south also relied heavily