A Tale of Two Colonies | Heritage Briefs - Episode # 14
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💬 Show Notes:
In this episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, Chuck Christie presents "A Tale of Two Colonies," exploring the early experiences of the Jamestown and Plymouth Colonies. Discover how these two colonies, despite their distance and lack of communication, faced similar challenges with communal living and starvation. Learn how their transition to individual land ownership led to prosperity and the importance of hard work in shaping the American spirit.
This insightful discussion highlights the lessons learned from history and the implications for contemporary society.
🗣️ Quotes from William Bradford
"The communal system was evil, contrary to human nature, and contrary to the teachings of Scripture."
"The communal system was evil, contrary to human nature, and contrary to the teachings of Scripture."
🗣️ Quotes from John Adams
"Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."
🗣️ Quotes from Margaret Thatcher
"Socialism works until you run out of other people's money."
📝 Blog Post Body:
In the latest episode of Morning Star Heritage Briefs, Chuck Christie delves into a captivating historical narrative titled "A Tale of Two Colonies." This episode takes listeners back to the early 17th century, when the Jamestown and Plymouth Colonies faced similar challenges despite being separated by hundreds of miles. Both colonies began with a communal system that ultimately led to disastrous outcomes, including starvation and loss of life.
The tale unfolds with the establishment of Jamestown in 1607 and Plymouth in 1620. Initially, both colonies adopted a communal approach to agriculture, in which land was collectively owned, and the harvest was shared. However, this system proved to be flawed. In Jamestown, two-thirds of the colonists perished during their first winter, while Plymouth faced a similar fate the following year.
The turning point came when both colonies abandoned their communal systems in favor of individual land ownership. This change ignited a newfound motivation among the colonists, leading to increased productivity and, ultimately, prosperity. William Bradford, the leader of the Plymouth Colony, recognized the failures of the communal model, noting that it discouraged hard work and rewarded laziness.
Christie emphasizes the importance of learning from these historical experiences. The transition to a free-market system not only saved the colonies from starvation but also laid the groundwork for the cultural values of hard work and diligence that would shape American identity. The episode draws parallels to modern economic systems, highlighting how history often repeats itself.
Listeners are encouraged to reflect on lessons from the past, especially in the context of contemporary discussions about socialism and free-market economics. The episode also features thought-provoking quotes from historical figures like John Adams and Margaret Thatcher, reinforcing the idea that understanding history is crucial to avoiding the mistakes of the past.
Join us as we embark on a fascinating journey through American history and uncover the profound lessons that continue to resonate today. Tune in to the Morning Star Heritage Briefs to gain insights that are not only educational but also relevant to our current economic landscape.
✍️ Episode References
Rick Joyner
John Adams
Margaret Thatcher
Vladimir Lenin
China Economic Reform
Automatic Show Notes
Chapters
Long Summary
This lecture, titled "A Tale of Two Colonies," focuses on the historically parallel experiences of the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies in early America, as recounted by Rick Joyner. The discussion opens with the establishment of these two foundational colonies—Jamestown in Virginia in 1607 and Plymouth in Massachusetts in 1620—both of which faced significant challenges during their formative years. Despite being separated by roughly 500 miles and having no known communication, the colonies faced strikingly similar struggles due to their initial economic structures.
The primary emphasis of the lecture is on the transition from a communal economic system to individual land ownership, a shift that played a critical role in their survival and subsequent prosperity. In their early seasons, both colonies adopted a communal approach in which property and harvests were shared by all, leading to severe food shortages and high mortality rates. The struggle against starvation claimed the lives of two-thirds of the inhabitants in Jamestown and approximately half of those in Plymouth during their first winters. The grave situation persisted until both colonies decided to abandon the communal model and grant individual plots of land to each colonist.
Joyner highlights the insights of William Bradford, the leader of the Plymouth colony, who critiqued the communal system as a catalyst for laziness and inefficiency that undermined the hard work of the diligent. Upon the shift to individual farming, not only did starvation become a relic of the past, but a surplus was generated, allowing the colonies to thrive. This transformation is framed within the broader context of free-market principles, which were embraced after the failure of communal ownership was evident. Bradford’s reflections reveal a significant evolution in his understanding of economic systems, as he initially regarded communal living as a Christian ideal, only to later deem it contrary to both human nature and Scriptural teachings.
The lecture goes beyond the historical narrative to address the broader implications of economic systems on human behavior and community success. Joyner argues that communal practices, regardless of good intentions, often lead to detrimental outcomes, as the adage goes: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. He examines the necessity of humility and learning from experience in leadership. Bradford's open acknowledgment of the costly mistake served not only as a lesson for himself but also for future generations, demonstrating the value of humility in the face of failure.
Additionally, Joyner draws parallels between lessons learned from colonial America and modern implications for economic policy. He references historical figures such as Vladimir Lenin and the subsequent transitions in China, illustrating how the reversal of rigid socialist policies led to remarkable increases in productivity and wealth. By highlighting these examples, he argues against the enduring temptation of Marxist socialism, pointing out the pattern of failure that accompanies its implementation.
Finally, the lecture culminates in a call for education in the principles of freedom, emphasizing the importance of learning from history to avoid repeating past errors. Joyner’s insights, peppered with quotations from influential figures, provide a compelling critique of socialist ideologies while advocating for free-market systems rooted in hard work, individuality, and responsibility. Through the narrative of Jamestown and Plymouth, he underscores the profound movement from scarcity to abundance, attributing it to the embrace of economic freedom and personal accountability.
Brief Summary
This lecture, "A Tale of Two Colonies," by Rick Joyner, examines the parallel struggles of the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies in early America, highlighting their transitions from communal economies to individual land ownership. The discussion outlines the severe hardships both colonies faced, including extreme food shortages and high mortality rates, due to their initial communal systems. Joyner reflects on William Bradford's critique of communal living, which he recognized as inefficient and contrary to human nature. The shift to individual farming practices not only alleviated starvation but led to prosperity, illustrating the benefits of free-market principles. The lecture connects historical lessons to modern economic policies, warning against the pitfalls of socialism and emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes to promote freedom and personal accountability.
Transcript
[0:08] A Tale of Two Colonies
[0:00] Hello again, this is Chuck Christie, bringing you another segment of the Morningstar Heritage Briefs. This episode, entitled "A Tale of Two Colonies," is Heritage Brief 14 by Rick Joyner. Jamestown was the first English colony established in America in 1607 in what is present-day Virginia. A little over a decade later, the Plymouth Colony was established in 1620 in what is now Massachusetts. They were about 500 miles apart, and there was no known communication between them. Yet, they had a remarkably parallel experience with their initial economic systems. Both began with a communal system in which property was owned by the collective
[0:56] The Shift from Communal to Individual Land
[0:52] and the harvest of the common garden was shared collectively. In their first winter, each colony suffered massive starvation, with two-thirds of the Jamestown colonists perishing and half of the population dying in Plymouth. The next winter, half of each colony died of starvation again. Both colonies then abolished the communal system and gave each colonist their own plot of land to cultivate.
[1:23] No one ever starved to death again in these colonies. William Bradford, the leader of the Plymouth colony, wrote about the evils of their attempted communal system. With it, the lazy did little or no work, but shared equally in the harvest with the diligent and hardworking. This injustice caused the industrious to lose heart and stop working hard. After each colonist was given their own land to cultivate, everyone became motivated to work and the harvest dramatically increased. Not only did no one in these colonies starve again, but after they started to reap what they had cultivated, there was an abundance left over that many began to sell, export back to the mother country, or trade with the Indians. Both colonies went from deprivation and starvation to having more than they needed. The only factor was that they abolished the socialist system and implemented basic free-market economics.
[2:36] Lessons from William Bradford's Experience
[2:30] When William Bradford first mandated the communal system, he considered it the Christian thing to do. He noted that it was what the first Christians had done in Jerusalem. After this experience, he called the communal system evil, contrary to human nature and contrary to the teachings of Scripture.
[2:52] Bradford did not change his theology just because of this experience, but the experience helped illuminate many scriptures he had not noticed before, such as the Apostle Paul's exhortation in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12: "If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat either."
[3:15] For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. What Bradford did at first is what many zealous Christians do when they base their beliefs or practices on a single scripture without considering the counterbalancing ones. We do not want to base our theology just on experience, but truth that is life will also often be illuminated by experience. As Bradford came to understand, there was a good reason why having all things in common, like the first church in Jerusalem, was never duplicated by any other church. Again, we should never base our beliefs on just one text, especially when it stands in contrast to the rest of Scripture. These exceptions exist for a reason and should keep us open to being led to make the exception, but our practices should be based on the norms, not the exceptions, unless we have very specific guidance to do otherwise.
[4:36] William Bradford was a strong leader, but he had a humble, teachable heart. He may have had the best of intentions when implementing the communal system,
[4:50] The Cost of Idealism
[4:46] but many people paid a terrible price for this mistake. This may be why the saying was coined: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
[4:58] Idealism can be a most deadly enemy of revelation, causing even the distortion of the Scriptures, as Peter warned in 2 Peter 3:14-16. Bradford's mistake had been costly, but his humility and willingness to accept responsibility for it became a pattern for future leaders of the colonies. Because he wrote about it openly, others could learn from his experience and avoid repeating this mistake. Since God gives His grace to the humble, the grace of God was abundant in the colonies and the nation they became, as long as they kept seeking His ways.
[5:40] Building Wealth Through Diligence
[5:40] It was also from these profound lessons at Jamestown and Plymouth that prosperity and wealth in the colonies became based on diligence and hard work, not finding treasure. As a result, diligence and hard work became the culture of the colonies. In Scripture, there can be a difference between wealth and riches. Riches tend to come and go quickly, but wealth is built on wisdom, endurance, and hard work, and can last for generations. This enabled the colonies to build wealth, not just riches.
[6:19] This is not to imply that the prosperity of the colonies came quickly and easily. There were many challenges and setbacks. They were also building on a solid
[6:32] Historical Lessons from Lenin
[6:28] foundation that would not only endure, but prosper. Even though he was not a Christian and did not believe in God, Vladimir Lenin, the first communist leader of Russia, actually came to the same conclusions that Bradford did.
[6:45] Lenin began to see that communal economics was causing a collapse in productivity in Russia and mass starvation was looming. To counter this, Lenin began to allow some basic free-market practices again, such as limited private property and the right of those who produced more than their quotas to sell the surplus and keep the profits. This had an immediate positive impact on productivity, and the expected massive starvation was avoided until Lenin suddenly died. Stalin took over after Lenin. He was a Marxist purist and canceled Lenin's reforms. Soon millions were starving in Russia each year. Some estimated that as many as 30 million starved in Russia before World War II broke out and massive aid was sent to the Soviet Union by the Allies. Perhaps following Lenin's example, in the 1980s, China began to allow small steps toward a basic free market into their rigid Marxist system.
[7:57] China's Economic Transformation
[7:52] What they achieved is one of the most remarkable stories in human history. In just two decades, more people were raised out of abject poverty than in all of human history before this. In just two more decades, China would rival the United States as the world's most powerful economy.
[8:14] The Failures of Socialism
[8:15] To date, there is not a single example of socialism that has not impoverished any nation in which it has been implemented. Why does anyone still promote Marxist socialism? Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.
Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. John Adams.
Socialism works until you run out of other people's money. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Copyright 2020 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.
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