Here’s the first in a new five-part series for PragerU:
One was founded on profit.
The other on faith.
Jamestown and Plymouth shaped two powerful forces in American life: commerce and religion.
Thomas Kidd, author of American History Volumes 1 and 2, tells the story of the colonies that helped set the stage for the nation to come.
You can watch the first five-minute lesson below. (New ones will be introduced each week.)
Here’s a chart (made with the help of Claude) that compares and contrasts the two settlements:
| Jamestown (Virginia) | Plymouth (Massachusetts) | |
|---|---|---|
| Year established | 1607 | 1620 |
| Primary Motivation | Financial gain/profit | Religious freedom |
| Sponsorship | Virginia Company of London (profit-making venture) | Self-funded by Separatist Christians |
| Initial Colonists | 104 men (no women initially) | 102 settlers (including families) |
| Intent | Make quick money and return to England | Establish permanent religious community |
| Religious Character | Christians who built a church, but faith was secondary to profit | “Separatists” fleeing persecution; religion was the primary driving force |
| Founding Document | None initially | Mayflower Compact (1620)—emphasized “glory of God” and self-governance |
| Early Economic Focus | Initially sought gold; later tried timber and wine; ultimately tobacco (from 1614) | Farming and hunting learned from Native Americans |
| Labor System | Increasingly relied on slave labor for tobacco cultivation | Community-based labor |
| Location Challenges | Built near marshes; disease from mosquitos | Harsh winters; difficult farming conditions |
| Early Mortality Rate | 440 of first 500 colonists dead within 3 years (88%) | 45 of 102 settlers died first winter (44%) |
| Relations with Native Americans | Uneasy cooperation and trade; quickly deteriorated into cycles of mistrust and violence; ultimately leads to Anglo-Powhatan Wars | Harmonious; Wampanoag tribe taught farming and hunting; celebrated First Thanksgiving (1621) |
| Legacy | Financial entrepreneurship | Spiritual entrepreneurship and self-governance |
