William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation
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Questions and Answers

What aspect of Bradford's account of the 'First Thanksgiving' differs most from the popular image?

  • The portrayal of a harmonious gathering
  • The significance of natural resources (correct)
  • The emphasis on Puritan-Native American relations
  • The inclusion of a large feast

How did Bradford's priorities shift as he wrote his narrative?

  • He shifted from personal experience to historical documentation
  • He increasingly focused on the struggles of the colonists (correct)
  • He aimed to promote the city of Boston over Plymouth
  • He edited out the complexities of political events in England

What was Bradford's primary goal in writing his history of Plymouth colony?

  • To portray the colony's development accurately and truthfully (correct)
  • To promote radical Protestant ideals
  • To entertain readers with humorous anecdotes
  • To recount the colony's history in a detailed and embellished manner

Which major historical event does NOT form a backdrop to Bradford's narrative?

<p>The American Revolution (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What literary style is evident in Bradford's historical recounting?

<p>A mix of descriptive prose and drawn-out accounts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation?

<p>A historical account of New England's early history (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which event does Bradford notably omit in his writings?

<p>The death of his wife, Dorothy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which city did Bradford's community initially establish themselves in before relocating?

<p>Leyden (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Nonconformist minister whose sermons influenced Bradford?

<p>Richard Clyfton (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What prompted the Scrooby community to leave the Netherlands?

<p>War with Catholic Spain (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which significant event followed the Mayflower's arrival at the coast?

<p>The signing of the Mayflower Compact (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the original destination of the Pilgrims as per their land grant?

<p>The Virginia territory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what time frame did Bradford write Of Plymouth Plantation?

<p>1630 to 1650 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Mayflower Compact?

<p>To form a civil body politic and create laws. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the 'Starving Time' impact the Plymouth settlement?

<p>It caused the loss of half the population. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was John Carver in the context of the Plymouth Colony?

<p>The first governor of the colony. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Bradford's history work is considered significant regarding its survival?

<p>It was preserved in the Plymouth church records. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which concept best describes Bradford's view of the Plymouth community's failures?

<p>A disintegration of communal purpose. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Bradford view as essential for his community's identity?

<p>Ability to interpret God’s will through Scripture. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which leader is noted for conferring with Bradford on regional matters?

<p>John Winthrop. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant factor that led to the division of the Plymouth community?

<p>Economic opportunities elsewhere. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term did Bradford coin to describe the settlers on the Mayflower?

<p>Pilgrims. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What led to the discovery of Bradford's manuscript in 1855?

<p>It was located in the bishop of London’s palace. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conflicts is mentioned as a challenge faced by the Plymouth Colony?

<p>War with the Pequot Indians. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ideology influenced Bradford and his companions in settling Plymouth?

<p>Primitivism and Christian simplicity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was Cotton Mather in relation to Bradford's history?

<p>An ecclesiastical historian and interpreter. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Plymouth's association with Thanksgiving affect its historical significance?

<p>It made Plymouth a symbol of American unity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Bradford's account of the 'First Thanksgiving'

William Bradford's account of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, emphasizing the bounty of the land and the truthfulness of earlier reports about its potential.

Bradford's shifting priorities and audiences

A shift in Bradford's priorities and target audience in his writings, reflecting the changing circumstances of the Plymouth colony.

The two perspectives on the 'First Thanksgiving'

The contrast between the initial vision of friendly cohabitation between Puritans and Native Americans, as depicted in Mourt's Relation, and the reality of conflict and struggle in Bradford's narrative.

Bradford's challenges as a historian

The challenges Bradford faced in both accurately narrating the volatile events of his time and interpreting them as signs of God's will.

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The uneven texture of Bradford's narrative

The uneven style of Bradford's history, ranging from concise descriptions to detailed accounts of financial and political dealings, reflecting the complexity of the events he was describing.

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Of Plymouth Plantation

William Bradford's historical account of the Plymouth Colony's early years, written between 1630 and 1650.

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The Pilgrims

A group of religious dissenters who sought greater religious freedom and established Plymouth Colony in 1620.

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Mourt's Relation

A 1622 journal co-authored by William Bradford and Edward Winslow, which provided an early, journalistic account of the Plymouth Colony.

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Plymouth, England

The town in England from which the Pilgrims sailed for America in 1620.

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Plymouth Colony

The destination of the Pilgrims' voyage, a colony established in 1620 in present-day Massachusetts.

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The Mayflower Voyage

The voyage on the Mayflower, during which the Pilgrims set sail from England to America.

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Virginia Territory

The colony's original intended landing site, located in the Virginia territory.

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Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Pilgrims' actual landing place in America, located in present-day Massachusetts.

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Mayflower Compact

A civil covenant signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower to establish laws and a government for their new colony at Plymouth.

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Starving Time

A period of extreme hardship endured by the Pilgrims during their first winter in Plymouth, resulting in many deaths from disease and starvation.

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John Carver

The first governor of Plymouth Colony, who was a key leader and served as chief judge, administrator, and diplomat.

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William Bradford

The second governor of Plymouth Colony who served for many years and oversaw the colony's growth and development.

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Puritans

A religious group that sought to purify the Church of England and establish a society based on religious principles.

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Primitivism

The desire to return to the simple and strict practices of early Christianity, emphasizing simplicity and piety over worldly pursuits.

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Conflict with Thomas Morton

A conflict between the Plymouth colonists and a settlement led by Thomas Morton, known for its more relaxed and boisterous lifestyle.

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Pequot War

An important war between the English colonists and the Pequot tribe, fueled by territorial disputes and alliances.

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Episode of Bestiality

A tragic episode where a member of the Plymouth community engaged in bestiality, causing great scandal and concern within the colony.

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Challenges faced by Plymouth Colony

A series of struggles and challenges that tested the unity and purpose of the Plymouth Colony, including tensions with neighboring colonies, the Pequot War, and internal disputes.

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Religious Freedom

The desire to establish a society free from religious persecution and based on their own religious beliefs, leading them to leave England and settle in Plymouth.

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William Bradford

The author of Of Plymouth Plantation, who served as a leader in the Plymouth Colony and chronicled the events of the colony's beginnings.

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Magnalia Christi America

A book that documented the history of early New England, written by Cotton Mather, and included references to events and figures from the Plymouth Colony, such as William Bradford.

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The May-Pole of Merry Mount

A fictional story by Nathaniel Hawthorne set in the early colonial period and describes the clash between the Plymouth colonists and a more carefree settlement.

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Study Notes

William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation

  • Bradford's work, Of Plymouth Plantation, details early New England history, influencing cultural narratives.
  • Written between 1630 and 1650, it reflects on Plymouth Colony's early years.
  • It revises earlier accounts like Mourt's Relation (co-authored by Bradford and Edward Winslow).
  • Bradford was born in Yorkshire, England, and learned farming.
  • Motivated by Richard Clyfton's sermons, he joined the Scrooby community.
  • Religious dissenters, known as Pilgrims, sought religious freedom in the Netherlands (Leiden).
  • Facing harassment in the Netherlands and anticipation of war with Spain, they petitioned England for land in North America.
  • In 1620, a portion of the Scrooby pilgrims sailed for America on the Mayflower.
  • The voyage faced hardship, losses, and friction between colonists and the ship's crew.
  • They landed north of Cape Cod and named their settlement Plymouth.
  • Bradford was on the Mayflower when his wife, Dorothy, drowned.
  • The Mayflower Compact established a civil covenant for Plymouth.
  • The harsh winter and lack of supplies led to the "Starving Time," killing half the colonists.
  • Bradford became governor, facing challenges in governance, trade, and communal disputes.
  • He used the term "Pilgrims" in the Geneva Bible to describe the settlers.
  • Bradford saw Plymouth's journey as significant in the context of the Protestant Reformation and sought to apply the experiences to Christian history.
  • Plymouth interacted with indigenous communities, other English settlements, and European colonies.
  • The colony's success reflected its members' interpretation of God's will.

Difficulties and Conflicts in Plymouth

  • Bradford's account reveals internal conflicts within the community, particularly the struggles to find a suitable minister.
  • The colony's beloved pastor, John Robinson, died before reaching America.
  • Subsequent ministers were perceived as inadequate or problematic (e.g., John Lyford).
  • Conflicts arose with other colonists (e.g., Thomas Morton) and the surrounding colonies.
  • Difficulties with the Pequot Indians were part of the struggles.
  • Other events tested Bradford.
  • Economic opportunities led individuals to leave Plymouth.

Publication and Legacy

  • Of Plymouth Plantation wasn't widely published until 1856.
  • The manuscript was mysteriously lost and rediscovered in the 1850s.
  • It became a major source for historians.
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville used events from Of Plymouth Plantation in their fictional works.
  • Thanksgiving's connection with Plymouth is significant, although Bradford's account differs from popular depictions.
  • Bradford revised his account as the colony's circumstances evolved with Boston surpassing Plymouth, English Civil War, and the death of King Charles I.
  • Bradford's account demonstrates his personal reflections and challenges relating events to God's will in a time of volatility.

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Description

Explore the significant historical insights in William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation, a vital narrative detailing the early years of the Plymouth Colony. This work outlines the Pilgrims' journey, motivations, and challenges faced in their quest for religious freedom and new beginnings in America.

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