Puritans Assignment 2: Response to Text

The Puritans lived in a very plain manner, with most aspects of their daily lives intergrated with their religion. The simplicity of their lifestyle was to some extent required, as they were immigrants in an unknown land, all but cut off from the westernization they had left behind in Europe. However, in some ways they went even beyond this, renouncing worldly pleasures in an attempt to live Godly lives. Whether this was admirable or an extremist and somewhat dull utopian experiment is questionable, however they did undeniably lay foundations in their method of economy and governing which are still visible in current society.

Despite their somewhat delusioned philosophies, the Puritans displayed a considerable degree of courage and hardiness in settling in the new world, with the expanse of the Atlantic seperating them from any possible aid or provision, along with European civilization and the world as they knew it. Throughout various adversity they seemed to have maintained an almost Panglossian philosophy, as Bradford writes:

"Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and his mercies endure forever."

Seeing as this was written at a point when they were unsure of provisions, and the captain of the ship was threatening to leave early with their current food supply if they did not find some quickly, this passage might have been considered a bit optimistic. However, despite this situation they managed to not only survive but establish a thriving colony. This could probably largely be attributed to their good work ethic, stemming from their belief in doing everything to the glory of God, and appears to have differentiated them from the less succesful colony of Jamestown.

A large part of their success was due to the native Americans, as the corn which they originally found was from an abandoned village who's people had died in a plague, and the indian Squanto was their guide for many years, teaching them the agriculture of the area. Bradford ironically originally described them as "skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof off, but when any approached near them, they would run away; and once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and were gone to dinner," naming them as savages, though they peacefully agreed to share their land with the Puritans.

The Puritans colony was originally a commune, and all the citizens of the colony would work and plant for the common store, which was then divided equally according to families. However after it became clear that they would not be recieving further provision, the Governor, in an attempt to increase the harvest, declared that each family would grow their own corn, and keep the crop for their own use. This immediately boosted work ethic, with each family growing for themselves they became increasingly industrious. This was perhaps the first implementation of the capitolist system by the colonies in North America. Bradford praises the system in his journals, demoting the communist leanings of classical Greek philosophy he writes that it "may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; and that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God." This displays a tone of intolerance towards ideas that are not directly dictated by traditional Christian thinking, something which seems to be common throughout Puritan writings. Bradfords reasoning for the success of this capitolistic industry is interesting, he attributes the rise in production to the fact that the people were less willing to work if they did not profit directly, an individual working for the overall good of the community would be less motivated than one who was working for themselves. This seems somewhat contradictory to Christian ideology, such as that of the "golden rule" and helping your neighbor. Noting this, Bradford says that this is cannot be held against them as it is inevitable since man is imperfect, and therefore selfish in his sinful nature.