John Smith and William Bradford

             John Smith's persuasive pamphlet and William Bradford's Of
             Plymouth Plantation each present a different picture of the same pre-colonial land of New
             England. Smith's writing painted a colorful picture of the
             new land, whereas Bradford's historical account shows early New England was not
             Heaven on Earth. Mr. Bradford and Mr. Smith are writing about one land, but
             they present two different accounts of the life in the land.
             John Smith's writing is his ideal vision of what the new land could be
             with the best of people colonizing the new land. John Smith's fine piece of
             literature may also be considered a beautifully worded, finely tuned piece of
             propaganda. Mr. Smith wrote this selection to influence people to leave their
             lives in England and cross the globe to start a new life in a strange land.
             John Smith described a a land where little work was needed, and riches could be
             easily acquired. A man with little fishing ability could catch one hundred, two
             hundred, or three hundred fish a day. He tells of animals perfect for hunting
             that give plenty of food to live on, and rich furs that could be traded for
             money. Mr. Smith declares the land free, so anyone could come to the New World
             and accumulate great wealth. John Smith envisioned a land where all men would
             live in peace and harmony, a vision that would not be fulfilled in New England
             William Bradford's history of the Pilgrims, in Of Plymouth Plantation,
             sheds a uniquely different light on life in colonial New England. Bradford's
             account depicts many hardships that had to be overcome by the Pilgrims, before
             their ideal land began to take shape. Bradford describes arriving in New
             England in the late fall as fatal for many of the Pilgrims. The first winter
             took its toll on the colonists. Forced to live on the boat, many people died of
             scurvy or starved. When they finally were able to stay on land, they found the
             ...

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