What is a significant difference between the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies

Several colonies and cities have gone through some mysterious and incredible pasts which cannot be forgotten for long. Similar kind of history has been witnessed in Jamestown and Plymouth. Jamestown in Virginia was the first permanent English settlement and Plymouth in Massachusetts being the second, with these two colonies English settlement in North America was started. Both places are famous for their historical background and that is why they hold the attention of people even today. Both communities have had their own set of conflicts between the people residing there already and those who came to that place later. In both these places, the reason for the arising problem was different. Problems such as economic and religious and racial problems were the most prominent ones among both these places. Jamestown and Plymouth, today, are quoted as two popular places although both of them are not even in the same territory but far off from each other.

Jamestown

Jamestown had been facing economic problems in the past and the local people Indians and those who came afterwards, Europeans did not share a very good rapport between each other. By the time Europeans reached Jamestown, they found out that Indians were already there and the land was well cultivated and everything was smooth but they had one issue with the Indians. They claimed that this civilization is extremely disorganized and inefficient and so the Europeans should take over. And they even tried to take over but because they didn’t know how to cultivate land, they faced problems with that and therefore had to seek help from the Indians.

Plymouth

On the other hand, the Indians of Plymouth faced extreme barbarism from the Pilgrims who landed to their place. These people loved to kill Indians for the sake of land, money or anything. They even had religious issues with the local Indians which caused even more problems between both the communities. Though they did have an appreciation for the Indians who had good cultivated land but since they their selves could cultivate the land too, they didn’t really have any issues of being dependant on the local people.

Difference between Jamestown and Plymouth

Basically both these regions, Plymouth and Jamestown had their locals as Indians. The differences, however, were those of the people who later on came to the region. In Jamestown, it was Europeans and in Plymouth it was Pilgrims. In Jamestown the conflicts were on the economical issue while in Plymouth, it were on economy and religion as well. In Jamestown, the Europeans were dependant on Indians because they could not cultivate land whereas in Plymouth, the Pilgrims were not dependant on Indians since they could cultivate the land. In Jamestown, there was no killing or barbarism whatsoever since the Indians were so generous and even though Europeans hated them, still there was no such thing. In Plymouth, the Pilgrims killed Indians for various reasons and enjoyed the fact they were slowly taking over the whole region with their power. There was a time when a disease badly hit the Indians of Plymouth and because their state was already low, they faced a lot of problems at that time.

Introductory Activity

Start the lesson with vocabulary. Have your students complete a vocabulary matrix for several terms related to the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies. I like to focus on the following four words: colonist, pilgrim, drought, and epidemic. Students define each word, record a synonym, use the word in a sentence, and draw a picture to represent the word’s meaning. Definitions, synonyms, and a sentence for each word are listed below. 

colonist: a person who settles in a new place; settler; The colonists settled in North America. 

pilgrim: a person who travels for a religious reason; traveler; The Pilgrims left England in 1620.

drought: a long period of little to no rainfall, causing a shortage of water; dry spell; The long drought made it impossible to grow crops.

epidemic: a sudden outbreak of disease; disease; An epidemic killed many Indigenous Americans.

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Guided Practice

Use informational text, video, or a combination of both to focus on the purpose, location, problems, and progress of the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies. Presenting the information in this way will help students identify the similarities and differences between the two colonies. Key points for each of the four criteria are listed below. Click here to download a side-by-side text comparison of the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies.

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If students can write on the text, have them color-code the similarities and differences between the two colonies. If you don’t have access to a text students can write on, have them record the information on their own paper. I like to have students use different color highlighters, but underlining or circling the text in different colors also works well. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THIS PRINTABLE & DIGITAL LESSON

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Independent Practice

After identifying the similarities and differences in purpose, location, problems, and progress between the two colonies, students will be ready to create a venn diagram or double bubble map. Working independently, students complete the graphic organizer by identifying two similarities and two differences between Jamestown and Plymouth.

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Assessment 

To assess understanding, have students write a compare and contrast paragraph on Jamestown and Plymouth. Like the graphic organizer completed above, students will need to identify two similarities and two differences between the two colonies. 

I use an outline and close paragraph (paragraph frame) to differentiate the assessment for all levels of learners. It’s helpful to have students highlight the outline with the same colors they used to compare and contrast the text. See the image below for an example of this.

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Before students begin writing their paragraphs, we review paragraph structure and transition words. Common compare and contrast transition words and sentence frames are listed below.  

I also take a minute to review the grading rubric to make sure students are aware of the paragraph expectations. I use a standard 4 point grading rubric that assesses topic sentence, similarities and differences, examples, concluding sentence, transition words, and conventions.

Compare & Contrast Sentence Frames and Transition Words   

Commonly used transition words for making a comparison: likewise, similarly, along the same lines, in the same way

• A similarity between ____________ and ____________ is ______________.
• _______ and ___________ both show ________________. 
• _______ and _____________ are alike in that they both ____________.
• ___________ and ___________ are alike because  __________________.
• Similarly, ___________ and __________ are __________________.
• In the same way, _______ and __________ are __________________.

Commonly used transition words for contrast: although, but, by contrast, conversely, despite the fact, even though, however, in contrast, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, regardless, whereas, while, yet 

• _______ is ________, while ___________ is __________________.
• __________ is___________, but ____________ is _______________.
• _________ and ____________ are different in that _______________.
• While ________ shows __________, __________ shows __________.
• ______ is _______, on the other hand _______ is __________.
• ________________, yet _______________________.
• Although ______________________, ________________________.
• _________ and ____________ are different because ___________________.
• A difference between _____________ and _______________ is ________________.

Love this lesson plan, but don’t have time to recreate it? Click the link below to download everything you need to compare and contrast Jamestown and Plymouth in printable and digital formats! 

Jamestown vs. Plymouth Compare and Contrast Lesson

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“This was a great way to easily see the similarities and differences between the two colonies.  It was perfect for structuring and writing a compare/contrast essay.” -Lori P.

Common Core Standards

• RH.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• RH.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

  What is the major difference between Jamestown and Plymouth settlers?

  Jamestown vs Plymouth To begin with, Jamestown was one of the aboriginal colonies that was founded. Jamestown is positioned in Virginia. John Smith was an English adventurer and soldier, he was additionally one of the generators of Jamestown. Plymouth is an English colony and this was stationed in Massachusetts.

  What are the similarities and differences between Jamestown and Plymouth?

  Although their reasons for settling were different, the settlements had many similar experiences. Jamestown and Plymouth both faced harsh and demanding climates and struggled with hunger, disease, and death. In their first years they had much difficulty establishing housing and finding a sustainable source of food.

  Are Jamestown and Plymouth the same?

  Jamestown was indeed the first permanent English colony, but Plymouth brought unique elements that Jamestown did not possess, and thus was first in other areas. As I hope to show, both colonies have produced unique blessings all Americans can celebrate in this, the beginning of America's 400th birthday.