Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower

Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower

Some odd facts, first this is a Plymouth Rock.
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And also that, "The City of Berkeley was named by Frederick Billings while he stood at Founder's Rock in 1866. One of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the U.S. was in Plymouth, MA in 1621. The town of Plymouth was found at the landing site of the Mayflower (link)."

In the reading of Mayflower one of the most apparent things is how unexceptional America was to the Puritans, "The grassy fields and open forests were, in Winslow's words, "like many places in England. (107)" Maybe they were saying how this place made them feel welcome, or was like the nice areas in England, but this is not so. They are downplaying this on purpose. Because, if they write about how wonderful America is then like John Smith's book to them, others will flock to America seeking the same bounty. Basically the conquerors do not want competition and the easiest way to do this is to not say how rich the land is, or how the natives are friendly and intelligent, or just how much better (or how much less) the pollution is.

All of this tale shows how one sided the views were towards the natives, "fell to discoursing of England. He had said now "King James his man." As a consequence, the French were no longer welcome in Narraganset bay, (108)" because if they had heard of King James before they would surely be his followers sooner. And the insults about the lice and fleas in the Indian tents and how "Massasoit was "both grieved and ashamed that he could no better entertain" both on page 109. Clearly the Puritan's are showing their own biases by not saying anything good about what Massasoit could provide, but instead being poor guests. Why else who you talk trash and down play someone's generosity.