Smith, Bradford, and Winthrop: America’s Founding Fathers Essay Example

religion can still be contrasted.

Bradford’s community of Plymouth was a religious community where the roles of political and religious leaders were differentiated. John Winthrop and his settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony also emphasized religion as the key or missing element of any new community. Winthrop believed following the uniform beliefs of Christian Doctrine would result in a model society that would undoubtedly be replicated by other founders of new communities. Perhaps Bradford’s writings are less zealous because the Pilgrims were all too familiar with the removal of religious freedom.

The settlers of Jamestown, the Massachusetts Bay colony, and Plymouth shared common struggles with disease and deadly conflicts with Native Americans. The leadership approaches by figures like Captain John Smith, Bradford, and Winthrop directly influenced the survival and success of these communities. The election and appointment of these leaders differed with Bradford being elected repeatedly by a group of his peers. Alternatively, John Smith was appointed by English royalty.

This act indicates the contrasting motives to the founding of Jamestown compared to the other communities. Winthrop’s sermon-like writing indicates his differential approach to leading others. While he was likely a memorable and inspirational speaker, this passage lacks the practical contributions that were consistently woven in the statements of Bradford. Winthrop communicates an intolerance for divergences from his rigorous beliefs, while the leadership styles of Smith and, especially, Bradford seems more diplomatic and somewhat democratic.

Depending on one’s perspective on the settlers treatment of Native Americans and their original motives for founding new colonies, it’s debatable whether these early communities were examples of successful societal expansion or failed human decency. Comparing the colonial leaders original goal with the outcome

of each community indicates relative success in that surviving members of Jamestown, Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay eventually founded well-established communities that would merge to become part of the first American colonies.

The individual successes of influential leaders and the combined efforts of a community to found a new society are apparent in these expressions of pride, but these communities were not without their failed goals. Jamestown, especially, suffered extensive loss of life as a result of disease and deadly conflicts with Native Americans. The death of the original settlers may have reinvigorated the settlement itself because new colonists and supplies were transported to the area.

Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay colony were more isolated from their European roots following their settlement. The work of Smith and Bradford also failed to produce the financial gains anticipated from the investors that funded their ventures. In light of their impressive contributions to lead the founding of what would become the United States of American, their inability to discover gems, gold, and treasures upon their arrival is not viewed as a failure from today’s perspective.

Violent conflicts between Native Americans, described as savages, and the European settlers were described as a reoccurring theme in the writings of these leaders. It’s difficult not consider their experiences with the modern knowledge of how these conflicts would tragically result for the once vast population of Native Americans. Smith and Bradford particularly seemed to recognize the dire need to address these tumultuous relations. Bradford engaged a more diplomatic approach that makes one wonder if a universal approach of justice could have changed the course of history.

Even through the window of small snippets of personal writings, it’s

clear the leadership styles, driving motivations, goals, and personalities of John Smith, William Bradford, and John Winthrop were starkly different. They share the common distinction of leading a group of courageous settlers through extraordinarily challenging circumstances to found communities that would grow to become one of the most successful nations in the world.