"The memorable events of history are the visible effects of the invisible changes of human thought." — Gustave Le Bon, 1896
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Multiple Visions of the New World
After reading this very short packet of New Netherlands readings and a short selection from William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation," I'd like you to describe the different views that you notice between the Pilgrim and Dutch settlers as they come face-to-face with the the New World. Then, after some research and/or reflection, I'd like you to write a thesis statement explaining why you think these differences existed. Please write in the comments section of this post a minimum of 6 sentences, including the thesis statement. (Trouble logging into Blogger? Check out these directions)
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In the Selection from Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford focuses more on describing the journey to the new world. He describes the people on the ship, the ones who died or who were sick, and the problems they encountered. The weather and the degrading parts of the ship were told about in great detail. He is also very religious. He talks about God as if he had been on the ship with them. The New Netherlands by Adriean van der Donck and The Island at the Center of the World by Russel Shorto described the landscape and the animals living in the area. Little of their journey was talked about in these two readings. They talked more about the layout of the new world and the birds and sea life, food in their eyes. Through these readings, the future of the new world was being described while in the previous reading, everything prior to landing in America was talked about.
ReplyDeleteThesis Statement: The Dutch and the Pilgrim settlers had different views of the New World and also had different views of what was more important.
The Dutch see America as a new, improved version of their own country. The Puritans find the opportunity to "purify" the natives. Overall, it is a new start for all of them. Some knew what they were looking for, others didn't, and some were just fleeing from a country in which they couldn't express their religious beliefs. In Europe, everyone was in need of land, and more natural resources to expand their empire, so they could out power each other, that impulsed some countries (such as the Netherlands) to search for such things in the New World, while other countries were having internal problems (religious differences in England) that made people flee the country or leave to purify and share their religious beliefs with others. Some people within the group knew exactly what they wanted but other were unsure of what they wanted in the new country.
ReplyDeleteUpon arriving, the Dutch viewed the this new land different than the pilgrims; as a blank canvass. They could create any kind of new world then desired. It was a "wholly new landscape, stranger and more complex than the flat land they had left." One of the new settlers causally wrote home on how much he admired this new land. The cattle, the fruit and the rolling hills that his country lacked. "All products being in abundance" he wrote, looking at the vast majority of new prey in the eyes of a Dutch. They founded this opportunity to be used for increasing territory and increasing the benefit of the natural materials. The pilgrims were those who fought to find freedoms in this new land. When article struck, the exhaustion and eagerness of the settlers became irrelevant and "they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven." However, these settlers had no one to welcome and celebrate in their arrival. All they had was thier will to go on and make the most of their unusual and unknown surroundings. Their trip was hard and "compacted together in on ship" but upon arrival, we can see that their reaction is much more prevalent than the Dutch and increasingly more impressive with their integrity and ambition.
ReplyDeleteThe Passages show great difference in opinions between William Bradford and Adrian Van Donck. When the explorers arrive the describe they moment in complete opposite ways. Van Donck is very interested about all the details of the land.He documents the whole setting in the newly discovered “Paradise”. His documents are much less complex than Bradford’s. Bradford does a very general report of the land. Bradford was more interested in the scientific detail in the new species. The writing shows how differently educated both explorers are and the different tactics of discovery do the documents they kept.
ReplyDeleteThesis: Both of the explorers admire the new land although it was described differently.
After reading both the New Netherlands reading and the short selection from William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" I find the Dutch settlers to be more content with what they landed on. They describe a land with an abundance of resources and prosperous opportunities. The Pilgrims, on the other hand, write of a place with barbarian humans roaming the land. They are unhappy about the lack of resources and future in this barren land they have come upon. They speak of unbearably cold winters whereas the Dutch settlers right over in New York have no complaints whatsoever. The difference in views between the Pilgrims and the Dutchmen is caused by the high expectations held by the Pilgrims compared to the more standard ones the Dutch had.
ReplyDeleteThe settlers in "New Netherlands" describe the scene in which they landed with more pleasure and a brighter attitude and outlook on the lad they settled on. They wright about the great things and the great opportunities that will come from living on this new land. In the selection from William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation," the travelers and settlers let the journey ruin their outlook on the new land and their new home. the terrible travel conditions and the long journey put the writer into a solum mood which carries out into the rest of the adventure. The feeling toward the new world are not as warm as the writer of "New Netherlands" made you feel when reading about the first thoughts on this land.
ReplyDeleteThesis: While both groups made the cruel and terrible journey only one was able to focus on what was there for opportunities and open their eyes to new things while the other writer was stuck in the past of the terrible journey to get there.
Both the Dutch and the pilgrims have a positive out look on this new land they have encountered. Their views of the opportunities on the land do differ in a slight way. The Dutch are very caught up in the moment when they arrive, and are excited to see what the land holds in store for them. The pilgrims know they are blessed with the opportunities that god has given them on this land and will not take it for granted. Each group knows what they need to do to survive, but the Dutch are better prepared for the conditions of the winter to come. Overall both groups want to take advantage of the opportunity given to them because they are greatful they get to start a new life in a new place.
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ReplyDeleteThe Dutch and the Puritan populations are intrigued and in wonder what they might do with these new lands. They can both see plenty of opportunities even though their outlooks are a bit different. The Dutch at first, seem to be amazed and confused with what to do with all this new land, where as the pilgrims seem to know that they have been blessed with this new opportunity and plot of land. Overall both know that they have been blessed with this fortune and hope to be ready when season's change and the climate and food sources alter.
ReplyDeleteBoth the Pilgrim and the Dutch populations are in awe of the expanse and potential of these new lands. The Dutch are interested in cultivating the crops there and introducing plants from Europe.The Pilgrims are excited about new opportunities and cultivating a religion rather than the land. Both see new hope.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch are excited to cultivate the land and bring crops that they have grown in Holland. The English Puritans are seeking religious freedom and want to create a Christian society rather than cultivate the land. Both are in amazement at the size of the new world.
ReplyDeleteThe Pilgrims have a more pessimistic view of the land than the Dutch do. The Pilgrims do not like how there are Native Americans running around their land. The dutch are excited to start planting their seeds to make food. They even brought some seeds with them. The Puritans were more pessimistic about it because they were running away from their own country so they could practice their own religion. Even though the Puritans are not happy with the situation, the Dutch and the Puritans know they are blessed.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the selection from William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" and the New Netherlands, Both the Dutch and the Puritan populations are much grateful for the oppurtunities that are available at these new lands. The dutch are looking forward to using their land for farming so they can plant seeds of plants back from Europe to create food for themselves. The Puritans were excited for their new land but with out a doubt more into leaving their last country in search for their religious freedom and rights.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" and the New Netherlands I cam to the conclusion that The Dutch and the Pilgrims and very different views in the new land. The Dutch were very interested in the new food also as well as the old. The old food they found seemed to be more improved. They also like the wild berries and venison. For the Pilgrims they were there to find there religious freedom and start a new life. Also they focused on not getting killed by the indians.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch were more appreciative and adaptive to the new land. They were intrigued in the new game to hunt, new mountainous lands, and new opportunities to grow and prosper as a civilization. The Pilgrims were thankful too, but they were more thankful to god for letting them find this new sacred land. The Pilgrims weren't as adaptive to the "New World" as the Dutch were, they were more focussed on finding a city to get goods from and rooms to live in. The Dutch reacted differently when arriving to the "New World" from the Pilgrims because they were banned from England because they didn't want to be a part of the Anglican Church, so they were more focussed on finding people and cities to thrive. Rather than find a way to adapt like the Dutch.
ReplyDeleteThe New Netherlands and "Of Plymouth Plantation" reading both decussed imigrants coming to Manahatan New York and Plymouth Massachusets to start a new life with unexspecting turns. When the Dutch and Purtain people came to the new land they both saw how to create a new life style. The Dutch people were very excited when they arrived in the New York harbor because they saw birds and new landscapes. They feel in love with the game of hunting. The pilgrims mingranted into a new land and did not know how to find food or make selter. It took the Pilgrims a while to learn how to hunt and make shelter unlike the Dutch. The Pilgrams thought that there was going to be a city, but they had to make their own which was new to them.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading both the New Netherlands reading along with William Bradford's selection Of Plymouth Plantation I found multiple differences between the two pieces. The Dutch are marveled with the new land and the resources that it provides. They love the land. The Pilgrims however, speak of barbarians and lack of recourses and cold winter.The Pilgrims also speak of their long perilous journey to America of which had terrible weather and lives were lost. Both the Dutch and the Pilgrims went to the "New World", however their perspectives differ very much.
ReplyDeleteOne part of the American dream I am getting from this video is attitude. Attitude is essential to any Americans well-being. The better your attitude and outlook on life are the better you feel about the situation that you are in. Like Andrew said "As long as it's sunny and not raining I'm ok," and this is a good way to look at his personal situation for the moment. The second part of the American dream is ethic. Oscar is a prime example of ethic. His work ethic gave him the chance to change his attitude towards everyone and his life in general.
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