When addressing certain periods in history, historians are keen on focusing their attentions on a few key figures. Granted, those key figures will usually be the ones that stand out the most in era of study. Key figures usually express some or all of these characteristics: leadership, bravery, independence, and confidence. In the early 1600s, we see multiple figureheads with these characters, but John Smith and William Bradford are two who stand out. Both are remembered for their presence in Early America, but, of course, there is a varied view for both men.
John Smith was a British man who enjoyed adventure. At the age of twenty-five, he had already gone through various adventures due to his involvement in the British Army. Due to his enjoyment …show more content…
One way in which they differ is their writing styles. In Smith's The General History, the point of view is third-person. This allows for Smith to successfully speak about himself in a very gracious manner without seeming excessively vain. Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation is written in almost a journal-like manner. The writing allows readers to see Bradford's influence on the colony. Also since Bradford's life is very heavily based off of his Puritan religion, his writings include his religious beliefs which assist him in explaining certain situations. Smith's main goal when writing his literature was to encourage settlement in Jamestown; whereas Bradford's goal was to tell of his experiences in Early America. Another factor when reading the literature of both men is the distinctively different views of Native Americans. Smith refers so Natives as "Savages," even though those "Savages" helped the people of his colony survive through the bad leadership. In contrast, Bradford always refers to the Natives as "Indians." The Puritans and the Natives had a very positive relationship which may have been the reason for Bradford's reverence for
John Smith was a British man who enjoyed adventure. At the age of twenty-five, he had already gone through various adventures due to his involvement in the British Army. Due to his enjoyment …show more content…
One way in which they differ is their writing styles. In Smith's The General History, the point of view is third-person. This allows for Smith to successfully speak about himself in a very gracious manner without seeming excessively vain. Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation is written in almost a journal-like manner. The writing allows readers to see Bradford's influence on the colony. Also since Bradford's life is very heavily based off of his Puritan religion, his writings include his religious beliefs which assist him in explaining certain situations. Smith's main goal when writing his literature was to encourage settlement in Jamestown; whereas Bradford's goal was to tell of his experiences in Early America. Another factor when reading the literature of both men is the distinctively different views of Native Americans. Smith refers so Natives as "Savages," even though those "Savages" helped the people of his colony survive through the bad leadership. In contrast, Bradford always refers to the Natives as "Indians." The Puritans and the Natives had a very positive relationship which may have been the reason for Bradford's reverence for