Jamestown & Plymouth Compare and Contrast

Location Jamestown Jamestown Anchorage Anchorage Good defensive position Good defensive position Warm climate Warm climate Fertile soil Fertile soil Large plantations prospered Large plantations prospered Plymouth Plymouth Good anchorage Good anchorage Excellent harbor Excellent harbor Cold climate Cold climate Thin, rocky soil Thin, rocky soil Limited farming Limited farming Lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing trade Lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing trade

Reasons Jamestown Jamestown Economic motives Economic motives Virginia Company Virginia Company Expand English trade Expand English trade Financial profit from investment Financial profit from investment Plymouth Plymouth Freedom from religious persecution Freedom from religious persecution Settle in the New World for true freedom Settle in the New World for true freedom

Setbacks Jamestown Jamestown Inexperience, unwilling to work, lack of survival skills Inexperience, unwilling to work, lack of survival skills Poor Native relations Poor Native relations Disease Disease No family unit No family unit No leadership No leadership Plymouth Plymouth Cooperation Cooperation Hard work Hard work Hunger Hunger Disease Disease Environmental hazards Environmental hazards

Religion Jamestown Jamestown Church of England Church of England Plymouth Plymouth Separatists Separatists Puritan ~ Congregational church Puritan ~ Congregational church

Government Jamestown Jamestown American government was born here American government was born here Legislative assembly Legislative assembly Plymouth Plymouth Self-governing agreement Self-governing agreement Mayflower Compact Mayflower Compact

Native Americans Jamestown Jamestown Unstable Unstable Vast differences in cultures Vast differences in cultures Gave up attempts to convert to Christianity and live peacefully Gave up attempts to convert to Christianity and live peacefully Plymouth Plymouth Survivors of epidemic befriended colonists Survivors of epidemic befriended colonists Assisted colonists Assisted colonists Eventually dragged into war Eventually dragged into war

Legends Jamestown Jamestown Pocahontas married John Rolfe, not John Smith Pocahontas married John Rolfe, not John Smith John Rolfe introduced tobacco which became a major plantation crop John Rolfe introduced tobacco which became a major plantation crop Plymouth Plymouth Priscilla Mullins married John Alden at Plymouth, not Miles Standish Priscilla Mullins married John Alden at Plymouth, not Miles Standish

Thanksgiving Jamestown Jamestown Celebrated the real first Thanksgiving on the anniversary of their arrival Celebrated the real first Thanksgiving on the anniversary of their arrival Plymouth Plymouth Pilgrims held celebration to give thanks for their bounty and blessings Pilgrims held celebration to give thanks for their bounty and blessings Origin of the holiday we celebrate today Origin of the holiday we celebrate today