Both colonies had hard times and little food. But the colony in Virginia seemed to have the hardest time. They had problems with Indians, leaders, and food. Both colonies were really poorly equipped to begin life here in America.

The colony at Plymouth planted their own Indian Corn, barley, and peas. Part of the reason they were able to plant successfully is because they used methods the Indians had showed them. Such as using fish to manure the ground with the seeds. (First Thanksgiving & Bradford, Plymouth Colonists) They were also able to store some of meat and corn for the coming winter. (Bradford, Plymouth Colonists)

Settlers in Virginia were not allowed to hunt; they were required to work. They did not plant their own crops, or if they did, they did not have the knowledge to make them grow. (Frethorne, Writes) Sense they did not grow and hunt their own food, they could not save up for when the tough times came.

In early Plymouth, they did not have to worry about attacks from Indians. At the time of the first thanksgiving they had "found the Indians very faithful in their Covenant of Peace." (First Thanksgiving) While in Virginia they "live in fear of the enemy every hour." (Frethorn, Writes)

The Jamestown settlement seemed to be set up around an almost dictatorial type of government. (Smith, On Jamestown) The settlers were forced to work. It was not so much free will. (Frethorn, Writes) On the other hand, in Plymouth, it sounds like they worked more together. For instance, "we planted... we built." (First Thanksgiving)

Jamestown as well as Plymouth had many people die. Some died of "Cruel diseases, as Swellings, Fluxes, Burning Fevers, and by wars; and some departed suddenly: but for the most part, they died of mere famine." (Percy, Observations) In Jamestown the conditions got so bad, some of the people resorted to cannibalism. (Smith, On Jamestown)

Although both colonies were not ready to start life here, they both did survive (all-be-it barely). We owe those brave colonists a lot of thanks. They tamed America just so we could live half a world away in this great state called Alaska.

Governor William Bradford on the Plymouth Colonists' Relation with the Indians, Early 1620's

The First Thanksgiving, 1621

Captain John Smith on Early Jamestown (1607-1610)

Richard Frethorne Writes to His Mother and Father, 1623

George Percy's Observations on Jamestown's Early Months, 1607