Zachary DeNuccio Mrs. Thompson Period G 17 October 2014 John Smith and William Bradford In the stories, The General History of Virginia, and Of Plymouth Plantation, each leader of these two different colonies established them for their own reasons. Captain John Smith, leader of the colony of Jamestown in 1607, founded it because the King of England gave him a charter and it was also for profit. He was a part of the joint-stock company called the Virginia Company. This meant that if the colony succeeded or failed, then the investors would all share in the gains or losses. Governor William Bradford was the leader of Plymouth Plantation in 1620. He was a part of the Christian religious group called the Puritans. At the time, the Puritans were being persecuted in England because they did not believe in religious tolerance. Smith, who has a bad run-in with the Native Americans, just about lets the …show more content…
John Smith considered himself to be always a tough, fearless hero, who would be similar to the present-day Arnold Schwarzenegger. As the short biography explains “If Smith were alive today, he would probably be starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in blockbuster adventure films… Adventurer, poet, mapmaker, and egotist are just a few of the labels that apply to Smith… (68). He was also a strong leader, poet, and mapmaker. The only thing bad about him is that Smith is short-sighted and arrogant. This means that he doesn’t look toward the future, only in the present situation. Governor William Bradford was proven to be a very strong leader. He was elected thirty times, was a very religious man, and also had a very humble attitude. As the brief biography explains “He was reelected thirty times. During his tenure, he organized the repayment to financial backers, encouraged new migration, and established good relations with the Native Americans, without whose help the colony would have survived.”