1. Before and After #2
Example 1 - Before
This writing is very informative on the dynamics in the relationship between the native Americans and the
settlers who were coming to “settle” the land. Being as few people from that time were actually educated enough to
read and write (and if they could write, they probably weren’t that talented), it is unique to have such a well
transcribed account of the experience.
One thing very resounding was how harshly the native Americans were perceived by settlers such as Bradford.
He writes in chapter IX:
“Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation…. They had now no friends
to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies.”
How arrogant it was for them to assume that the Indians would welcome new comers in and care for them.
Especially after previous encounters with the settlers showed them how dangerous they could be. The Indians had
every right to fight them, to protect what had been theirs for hundreds of years. The notation that they were sent by
God is a matter of opinion, however treating the Indians as they did was certainly not of God.
Bradford makes several references to Indians calling them “barbarians” and “wild men” just to name a few.
These remarks further enforce the just how arrogant the settlers were.
***
Reading this selection and seeing how people considered themselves so much more advanced than the people
of another culture and judged them so harshly is sadly not a concept that had dissipated. Here we are centuries later
and we still judge other people with a notion that any one human life is better than another. Racism is still
flourishing all around. People dislike Mexican citizens for illegally entering the country when obviously the
Europeans and Spanish did the exact same thing. People dislike Muslims and other such religious followers just
because their beliefs are so different than what Americans believe. The irony here is in the fact that a main reason in
leaving Europe was so that the Europeans could believe the way they chose. Have we since forgotten how much we
believed that people should be free to worship the way they choose? I believe so.
Example 1 - After
William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” is very informative about the relationship between the Pilgrims

2. Before and After #2
who settled New England and the Native Americans. At that time few people were educated enough to read and
write (and if they could write, they probably weren’t that talented), so it is unique to have a well-transcribed account
of the experience.
One thing very resounding in Bradford’s account is how harshly the Native Americans were perceived.
Bradford makes several references to them, calling them “barbarians” and “wild men.” These remarks further
enforce how arrogant the settlers were. In chapter IX, Bradford writes: “Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea
of troubles before in their preparation…. They had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh
their weatherbeaten bodies.”
How arrogant the Pilgrims were to assume the Indians would immediately welcome new comers and care for
them. Especially after previous encounters with Europeans had shown how dangerous they could be. The Indians
had every right to fight, to protect what had been theirs for hundreds of years. The notion the Pilgrims had that they
were sent by God is a matter of opinion; however, their treatment of the Indians was certainly not of God.
Reading this selection and seeing how the Pilgrims considered themselves so much more advanced than the
Indians and judged them so harshly is sadly not an attitude that has dissipated. Centuries later we still judge other
people based on the notion that one group of human beings is better than another. Racism still flourishes. People
dislike Mexican citizens for illegally entering the country when obviously the Europeans and Spanish did exactly
same thing. People dislike Muslims because their beliefs are different than what Americans believe. The irony here
is fact that the main reason so many people left Europe was so they could practice their beliefs. Have we forgotten
how much we believed that people should be free to worship the way they choose? I believe so.

3. Before and After #2
Example 2 - Before
William Bradford describes the struggles the Puritans and Separatist inured during the succession from
England in his Chapter”Of Plymouth Plantation”. Bradford suggested that people made the choice to either stay in
England and be imprisoned for their beliefs or to flee the country to go to the New World by saying "... the desired
to enjoy the ordinance of God in their purity and the liberty of the gospel with them, yet they admitted of bondage
with danger of conscience, rather than to endure these hardships. Yea, some preferred and chose the prisons in
England rather that the liberty in Holland with these afflictions (68)." In reality those who were imprisoned, were
more than like caught while trying to flee England or couldn’t afford to travel. There were probably people who
were so comfortable with their lifestyles in England, that they didn’t want to give it up to go to uncivilized country
even for religious freedoms.
Example 2 - After
In “Of Plymouth Planation” William Bradford describes the struggles the Puritans endured during the
succession from England. In the following quote, Bradford suggests that people had to make the choice to either
stay in England and be imprisoned for their beliefs or to flee the country to go to the New World:
"... they desired to enjoy the ordinance of God in their purity and the liberty of the gospel with them, yet they
admitted of bondage with danger of conscience, rather than to endure these hardships. Yea, some preferred and
chose the prisons in England rather that the liberty in Holland with these afflictions (68)."
In reality, those who were imprisoned were more likely those caught while trying to flee England or those who
couldn’t afford to travel. There were probably people who were so comfortable with their lifestyle in England they
didn’t want to give it up to go to an uncivilized country even for religious freedom.