Jamestown v. Plymouth: Where is America's Hometown?

With the help of the Witchfinder General, I examine the historical mythology surrounding Jamestown and Plymouth, the first two permanent English colonies in the continental United States. Can we confidently point to the founding of these two settlements as the origin of American identity and culture? No, thou knave!
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[@cerberus144]

Many natives along the coast learned Spanish and used it as a trade language even among other tribes. But could you imagine being an English Settler, your first interaction with a native savage is them looking you in the eyes and saying "Hola Amigo, Que Paso?"

[@Agonal]

Lmfao

[@SpiderkillersInc]

I believe one of the first interactions involved a Native man showing up and asking for beer.

[@jeffbenton6183]

@@SpiderkillersInc ¿Tienes una cerveza?

[@JesusGarciaLopez]

Vendimia? Vienes con Bienes? Bienvenido! Spanish may have rooted from Latin but grew out from markets and trading.

[@rakninja]

@@jeffbenton6183 he knew english. he had even been to england. squanto had a pretty amazing life.

[@lancerd4934]

"They were seeking a home in a remote and distant corner of the world where they could practice their creepy religious cult undisturbed." - Are you talking about Plymouth, or Utah?

[@fds7476]

Ding dong!

[@Cody211282]

Mormons where also looking for a place that they weren't wanted for multiple crimes in as well. J. Smith burnt a printing press to the ground for saying bad things about him and was wanted for conspiring to kill a governor among other smaller less interesting crimes.

[@ethanhatcher5533]

@@fds7476 My name is Elder Price...

[@thebelletoll7033]

Yes

[@mistermister2291]

​@@Cody211282 Umm.... might want to check your facts on that one buddy. (Edit: I feel the need to elaborate because what you say is true, it just depends on the way you view it.) On June 10th of 1844, a printing press run by recent excommunicates publishing libel (is that the right word? You'll have to forgive me if it isn't :D) was burned down by the Nauvoo Legion (the city's militia) with the approval of the Nauvoo City Council. (1) On the one hand this can be taken as wanton destruction, but on the other it can be taken as self defense. As well, we should look at other events at the time to get perspective on the character of the LDS church at this time. At the time, mobs were beginning to harass and threaten members of the church. It is important to realize that a few years earlier members of the church had already been forced to flee Missouri after severe persecution. (2) This persecution went to the extent that a settlement called Hauns Mill was attacked by militia. (3) 17 people were killed (including a 9 year old boy discovered hiding at shot in the head). It should also be noted that a kill order was passed by the governor of Missouri legalizing the killing of any Latter Day Saint. (4) So the Latter Day Saints fled to Illinois where they founded Nauvoo. People living in Illinois weren't fond of the Latter Day Saints either and soon after moving to Nauvoo, threats and mob violence began again. To get an idea of how bad it was becoming, Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum Smith were martyred (the word sounds dramatic, but the definition is perfectly accurate) at Carthage Jail on June 27 of 1844. (I know this is getting long, I meant to keep it short. There's just a lot of history here so bear with me for just one more thing xD) One other major point to consider is the Church's previous behavior regarding threats and violence by mobs in areas they were in (which was pretty much everywhere before they moved to Utah): Almost all of the time, the policy was to flee persecution rather than fight. Even in Nauvoo (a place primarily comprised of members of the LDS church at the time) the most drastic measure the Church took was the burning of the printing press and ordering the Nauvoo Legion to resist any anti-mormon attack on the town (5). This is rather important to consider as it shows that the burning of the printing press had motives far beyond ending and anti-mormon newspaper (of which there were many). In fact, the reason Joseph Smith and his brother delivered themselves up to the jailers was because Smith felt that the mobs were after him and that his death (he believed he was going to die (6) 1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauvoo_Expositor#:~:text=The%20Nauvoo%20Expositor%20was%20a,that%20led%20to%20Smith's%20death.&text=Smith%20was%20killed%20by%20a,a%20trial%20in%20Carthage%20Jail www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/nauvoo-expositor?lang=eng 2 www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/mormon.asp 3 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haun%27s_Mill_massacre www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/hawns-mill-massacre?lang=eng 4 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Extermination_Order www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/extermination-order?lang=eng 5 famous-trials.com/carthrage/1262-home (you'll find the reference I've made near the top. If you do a "find" search on "Nauvoo Legion), it's the 3rd of 4 mentions) 6 famous-trials.com/carthrage/1262-home www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/44-a-lamb-to-the-slaughter?lang=eng P.S. If you have any questions or civilized arguments, I'd be happy to talk. Positive waves and good vibes guys.

[@theprussian4616]

"How about we DON'T kill you when you get off the boat." Best line in my opinion

[@joeblow9657]

Not if it costs $3.50, you can have my dead body before I give you sons a biotches tree fiddy

[@aaroncabatingan5238]

English colonist: I'm not on a boat Native American: *smiles* exactly

[@skipads5141]

Way to make them not look like savage murderers

[@tvre0]

@@skipads5141 he’s not saying that, but to be fair the colonizers started off on the wrong foot by raping and pillaging the hell outta them

[@skipads5141]

@@tvre0: Nope. Not in Plymouth. Not in most places. They were vastly outnumbered. Save it for Woke Studies.

[@marcusappelberg369]

As a Swede we are taught already in 7-8th grade that about 1,5 million Swedes left my country to sail to yours from about the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th. For us Swedes, that is a huge numer. Even now we are just about 10 million people in Sweden. If you want I can recommend a really good, Swedish tv show called "Allt för Sverige" (All for Sweden). It's about Americans with Swedish ancestors traveling to Sweden to compete in a game show with other Americans with Swedish ancestry. In the show they learn a lot a bout their relatives, Sweden, the Swedish connection to America and so on. It's here on KZbin with English subtitles.

[@mangledjargon5728]

My family is from Norway, and they did that, too. Someone's traced our family lineage back to 1720, and of the single generation born in the late 1800s, half of the (usual) 14 kids born in Norway, all die in a different country. Most in USA, but one in Australia and one in UK. It's really odd to move from generation to generation and see everyone born and dying in Norway, except for only one generation of mass migration away from home.

[@dallastaylor5479]

My great grandparents came from Sweden. We still have family there and I was able to visit there to meet them. Yup, we're in the midwest. We still have an area still identified as swedish. That's just amazing 200 years later.

[@mangledjargon5728]

@@dallastaylor5479 In the 1960s, my grandfather went to visit the town in Norway where we came from and it was a HUGE deal! I still have the local paper's article in Norwegian about 'prodigal son from USA returns to family home town!'

[@blenterbl]

I heard the reason why so many Swedes sailed for the new world was because of a famine or potato blight, can you maybe confirm or deny it please, thank you.

[@marcusappelberg369]

@@blenterbl Yes, that is true.

[@chingizzhylkybayev8575]

"The cosmopolitan douchebaggery" made me lough out loud

[@Nossimid]

I was specifically looking for a comment like this. I needed to like it

[@jsplivjspliv5247]

Perfectly Worded. Hilarious.

[@c.s.griffel4890]

Yes!

[@jesseberg3271]

I don't get what he means by it.

[@thomaschristopher8593]

@@jesseberg3271 found the cosmopolitan douchebag. LOL.

[@thexalon]

One thing not often discussed about the Plymouth Colony: While much of the crew of the Mayflower were those Puritans who wanted to do their crazy religious cult far away from England, there was also a substantial percentage who didn't want that at all, and some who thought they were on their way to Jamestown. The Mayflower Compact was as much about dealing with that disagreement on board ship as anything else. And I'd argue that the colony that matters most to the First Amendment religious freedoms was Rhode Island, since they were by far the first colony to have that idea.

[@jessicageerligs339]

My ancestors arrived in New England in 1637. William Nickerson. Will was a tailor and was chased out of England (Norwich) by Bishop Wren of Essex on pain of death. Some say it was because Will wasn't religious enough, others say Will being part of a growing tradesmen class was gaining too much wealth. He arrived in the colonies to fall out with the locals as well. He purchased some land from the natives which the colonists contested from the outset and later founded the town of Chatham which honours him in a monument. In 1750 around, Wills family name jumps to Nova Scotia where they were given land once owned by the French (Charles de la Tour) in the Cape Sable region. We are mixed with New England native blood but here in Nova Scotia the Irish and Catholic is non existent.

[@hughjass69933]

@@jessicageerligs339 Don't know to much about mine, but my ancestors arrived in New Amsterdam in 1656.

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@hughjass69933 mine were slaves :) Yeah, the records don't go too far back...

[@ronaldlindeman6136]

I found it fascinating history. There is a book about Roger Williams that explains that time really well. Roger Williams was a remarkable person, who was educated in English law in England, came to North America and tried to be a puritans minister (in Salem), but wouldn't listen to his preacher bosses. Roger Williams (without his wife, while she was pregnant.) left in the winter to form Providence. Became friends with the native people living there, (wrote what we would call a sociology book on the Indians-native peoples living there. And read in Europe.) and continued to have disagreements with the other groups, but took in those that also had disagreements with the Plymouth, Boston and Salem groups. After going thru wars with both sides, after a few years, went back to England and had someone wait in London for 10 years to officially get Rhode Island to be a colony of England. Really a good read to understand all that went on.

[@Piotr.Wysocki]

@@anthonynorman7545 Mine were convicts sent to what was then a penal colony in Maryland. Not saying it was the same, but both arrived in chains.

[@SRV2013]

I would love to see the Witchfinder General review "The Witch" for spiritual accuracy, of course.

[@emilyk1502]

Yes that would be amazing

[@2PRO_4U_2NO]

That vvould be truly an amazing video

[@friedrichnietzsche7376]

Totaly!

[@lieutenantkettch]

I like that the Witchfinder-General has an accent from around the time the Great Vowel Shift was happening.

[@chrysalisamidst]

im jealous of the metal hat. also the musket.

[@samallen3564]

I wouldn't be I own the exact same musket, it's a very poor brown bess replica. Very very poor.

[@chrysalisamidst]

Gen. Sam Allen ECM but I need it to cosplay on the internet along with my crinoline

[@giantskunk]

The helmet is a Morion

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@giantskunk Only a moron would wear a Morion in preference to Kevlar.

[@vincivedivicilextalionas4036]

@@JMM33RanMA fuck a kevlar, ill wear my stahlhelm.

[@butterfunger5081]

This channel really needs more recognition. You’re doing such a good job!

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Thank you!

[@Rosspal14]

Totally agreed, start pimping this out brother!

[@Bellephus]

Big fan of his work, even if there are disagreements.

[@michaeldiebold8847]

I'm not subscribed at his vids are every other recommended video. KZbin is pushing him pretty hard.

[@Bellephus]

@@michaeldiebold8847 It isn't that KZbin is pushing him, rather it is that you have watched his videos in the past and thus he is recommended.

[@boredgrizz6037]

I'm from Puerto Rico and it's so good to have places like San Juan be mentioned in historical videos like these

[@jalenxavier2072]

Same here

[@AO_DireWolf74]

yes

[@TheConspirateWarrior]

That's because he has central european ancestry. They don't buy the anti Spanish bulshit... Spanish, contrary to the French, English and Dutch helped a lot keeping the Turks at bay and they know that had not been for Spanish enemies many men and women would have been spared of slavery, castration and other niceties they practiced on the East Europeans.

[@JohnSmith-ys4nl]

I know this video was about Jamestown and Plymouth (early 1600's) but I read an interesting account of colonial America recently. It's called Hamilton's Itinerarium and was written in 1744. Hamilton traveled across New England and recorded everything he saw in his diary, including conversations he had with people. He was quite humorous at times and tells several funny stories that happened to him. He describes NYC, Boston, Philly (and other cities) in detail. He talks about the religious denominations of various areas as well as the practices and customs of the people. One thing I learned is people in the American colonies back then looked at people in other colonies essentially as foreigners. If you were from Maryland and went to Maine, it was a different world. They didn't see themselves as one unified people at all, even if most of them were of English descent

[@cecasander]

As a Dutch person, I feel compelled to propose that America's hometown was actually New Amsterdam. Maybe I'm just triggered by that coat-of-arms in the background. Also, religious and personal freedom, rampant proto-capitalism and we even did some slavery and ripping off Native Americans, that's all your blueprints of the US right there.

[@toddmiller5656]

Fie! Thou heretical Dutch Reformed blasphemer! There be no mightier and more divine people than the Englishe! Cease thy foul utterances immediately or face the almighty wrath of God! Yon Witchfinder General hath spoken!

[@paulmentzer7658]

I lean to Philadelphia. First it was the largest city in the Colonies from in founding in the late 1600s by William Penn, till abkut 1790 when New York City finally pass Philadephia in population. When it came time to revolt against Britain, the Colonies meet in Philadephia. Well Harvard University was founded in Boston in the early 1600s, two other "Ivy League" Universities are either near Philadelphia (Yale) or in Philadephia (University of Pennsylvania). All three are still private universities to this day and the prestige universites in the US. Ben Franklin thought so highly of New England that when he became an adult he moved to Philadelphia as the boom city of his time period (Franklin would make his money in Philadephia). Pennsylvania was where the First Germans came to the US, the Germans are the second largest minority in US at just under 25% of the population, the English being the first at just over 25 % of the population. Please note, the single largest minority in New England and the South is English, in the rest of the Country German. The Irish make up about 15%, Afrucan Americans about 10%, Hispanics just over 10% (bjt its percentage is expanding, the others mentioned above are in a slight decline). Orentials are about 3%, First Americans 2%, the remainder other and mixed. Please note more recent polls have added the term "American" and a lot pf Southerners have opt for that ethic grouping instead of English. Most Americans are mixed but will give the above if asked about "what one nationality are you?".

[@hughjass69933]

My Dutch ancestors arrived in New Amsterdam in 1656. One or two ended up in Fort Orange.

[@Hubert_Cumberdale_]

@Nihilunder Nigel Powers

[@bobpobcf9723]

@Nihilunder dude when I was in High-school we had our dutch sister school come visit out school. They were going to give a presentation about there culture and way of life to our class nothing out of the ordinary. People in our school who visited them did the same. But they were so rude the presentation was ten minutes of shitting on America. (Complete with a video). When it came time to the Q and A they were stuck up, rude and insulting. Everyone was honestly taken shocked. When they came back two years later a different set of students they did the same thing again and from what I heard they were rude to the host families . They were following around some students to learn about there school life when they entered our US history class right when we were learning about the start of the second world war and the blitzkrieg push through europe. It made everyone smile when it was it was brought up how quickly they surrendered to the Reich. I hate racism but every interaction I’ve had with the dutch has been negative. I think its the culture of the particular school but it did leave me with a more negative perception of them.

[@EpimetheusHistory]

Loved the video! Fantastic Witchfinder General ending of the video.

[@dorkmax7073]

Yo! Seeing my favorite KZbinrs in the wild. Any exciting projects on ancient history?

[@oscara1471]

@@dorkmax7073in the wild😂😂😂

[@cegesh1459]

Cool to see you here.

[@maxwellbowman4084]

I love that you made a joke about that stupid “they couldn’t see the ships” idea.

[@rsacchi100]

I remember reading an account of a Native American girl who saw some guys in a row boat and was amused at all the movement they were going through to row the boat.

[@charlesdion1756]

I like how the English ask what the Indians have to trade rather then "MY GOD HOW DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH" !!!???

[@jennbaker6964]

“Some weird tree lady sang to me in the woods”

[@Callsign_Prophet]

They had already met the English/Europeans which is how they knew what those items were.

[@sidarthurgortimer355]

The first native american to make contact with the Plymouth greeted them in English, which he could already speak, and asked them for beer.

[@Callsign_Prophet]

@@sidarthurgortimer355 what an absolute chad

[@hmm3597]

There was actually one Indian that spoke English that's how they communicated He told them about a man coming and taking some Indian as slaves ,you have to read the pilgrims diaries, it has day to day journal .

[@lahr5576]

"Unidentified Sailing Object " Love it!

[@stevesmith9447]

"The cosmopolitan douchebaggery of the coastal cities" is my new favorite expression, as a Nordic midwesterner.

[@blam320]

@Aditya Chavarkar The West Coast is usually derided these days as being the home of hippies and big tech. That may just be California, though, I can't speak for Washington or Oregon.

[@paghal11]

@@blam320 Oregon is just fine. Lived here for 20 years now. I would say less douchebaggery than in Chicago, where I lived for 7 years.

[@userequaltoNull]

@@paghal11 Every Oregonian I have heard has said that Oregon is a wonderful place, except that Portland is the bane of their existence.

[@allbirdsareedible]

@@userequaltoNull Same with Washington, but here it's the cities right next to Seattle. Seattle's mostly harmless.

[@mrpink8951]

Finding America's hometown sounds like a good excuse for a road trip xD

[@katiearbuckle9017]

My gut tells me it's in Alaska. Because if we go with Ancient Migration paths, most of the Native American Tribal Ancestors came from Asia and down from that direction, but the trick I guess is seeing if the actual mother tribe of all the tribes still exists or is Active. Now they might have some difficulty though due other times in Native American history but most do know there is a Mother Tribe. But my gut says it's in Alaska.

[@franciscomoreno9705]

That mention of San Juan, most Americans don’t realize that is the oldest European settlement in their domain

[@jimmyleedavisthe3rd]

I've been there and it blows my mind. I didn't realize how old the city was...

[@franciscomoreno9705]

@@jimmyleedavisthe3rd technically it's not the oldest continuous settlement of the island because it got razed by the natives during the taino-Spanish war, the ruins of the original settlement are still in san juan. But it was only uninhabited for about a year I think(don't quote me on that) while the settlement of san german has never been uninhabited

[@Callsign_Prophet]

That's unfortunate. I went to school in Massachusetts and North Carolina and it was mentioned on multiple occasions.

[@CaribbeanHistory]

@@franciscomoreno9705 wait wait wait, you’re confusing two different places. No settlement in Puerto Rico was destroyed by natives. Attacked, yes. Destroyed, no. What you’re mentioning is Caparra which was founded in 1508. The settlement survived until 1521 when Ponce de Leon was ordered by Emperor Carlos I to move to the smaller island up north which were San Juan was settled. Caparra was abandoned. The ruins are also located in Guaynabo in an area known as Pueblo Viejo (Old Town) in honor of were Caparra was located, neighboring city to the west of San Juan. In the case of San German, San German current location was not its original location. San German started as a costal town but pirate attacks forced them to move the town further into the mountains then had to depend on other ports like Aguada to sustain their economy. So, San Juan still is the oldest inhabited town on the island

[@franciscomoreno9705]

@@CaribbeanHistory the official founding date of the current municipality of San german is 1511 and san juan is 1521. I was taught that caparra was burnt by the taino during the revolts but since what we are taught nowadays about history is very little I am inclined to believe you are right in that aspect

[@brettknoss486]

Although it didn't completely last, Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams, who began a key aspect of enlightenment thinking, when he was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, and lived with indigenous peoples. He was convinced that other forms of worship, made the native people human, and Providence was home to both the first synagogue and mosque in the Americas. Also there were Mercantile conlonies in New England, such as Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. If one thing defined the American experiment, it was the availability of land, which allowed for movement, and heterogeneous development. Although land was a major area of dispute between settlers and indigenous peoples, but also over land rights among settlers, cattle ranches and plantations. It is worth noting that the Homestead Act, was an important dispute before the civil war, with the free soilers in the upper mid west, being much stronger opponents of the slavery, than abolitionists. The fear being that the planter class would destroy the yeoman farmers, and democracy.

[@ChienaAvtzon]

The first synagogue in the Americas is in Curaçao. Rhode Island has the oldest synagogue in the USA.

[@brettknoss486]

@@ChienaAvtzon interesting.

[@ChienaAvtzon]

brett knoss - This is due to the Dutch being incredibly tolerant towards different religions. Which is partially why NYC has always had the largest Jewish community in the USA. It was originally a Dutch colony. An interesting fact is the Jews of Rhode Island ran to New York, during the Revolution. While, Rhode Island was the tolerant colony in New England. Religious tolerance is more of a Mid-Atlantic thing. Predominantly in New York (the former New Netherland), Pennsylvania (the Quaker), and Maryland (the Catholics).

[@annbush1826]

Among those driven out of the Plymouth Colony were the Macys They had hidden 4 Quakers, and (like Anne Hutchinson) were forced out into the wilderness. They sailed to Nantucket, where they prospered. YES! these are the Macys who give us the Thanksgiving parade!

[@littleferrhis]

People always forget that slavery wasn’t just bad because it was a inhumane immoral injustice, it also was economically incredibly capitalistic in the fact it bought out many small farmers. The south fought an entire war to protect wealthy aristocrats who all the while were cheating them out of money, it really is sad. Also don’t forget my ancestor who pushed for the first abolition law in RI(Samuel Gorton).

[@zekdom]

I admire your knowledge and energy. (Speaking with those accents for a prolonged period of time is no small feat.) You’re a talented and funny man. I’m glad that I found this channel.

[@rickhooker4625]

True. I've tried it, not easy, as you say.

[@Delgen1951]

@@rickhooker4625 Aye but tis ezly done if ye have the ear for it.

[@TheManWithTheFlan]

Man, the Witchfinder General even manages to sound furious when he's expressing gratitude.

[@jasemalvis2140]

Honestly when he started placing us, the audience, in the shoes of this hypothetical young entrepreneur back in the day I started imagining this guy being a time traveler who's stuck in this Era and decided to make the most of his history degree.

[@fatproduce]

I really wish that I knew more about early colonial history than I do currently. Keep up the great content! No I've got to go on an early colonial history deep dive...

[@chrisswanson2378]

This is the video I can put my finger on why I like your videos. You put yourself in the mind of the people you talk about. You keep your perspective or change it based on trying to understand all of the points off view and distilling it just to the point a noob could understand it.

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Hey, thanks man.

[@sircashew1097]

I don’t think the old Spanish settlements will ever be considered the birthplace of the US. Even if Spanish becomes a more widely spoken language, the US wasn’t formed from former Spanish colonies, rather the 13 colonies of Britain. St. Augustine is a really cool colony and everything, but the origin of the state that is the US has no link to it. Keep up the good work though! I just found this channel and really like it so far 👍🏻

[@SilverTemplar]

Honestly the Witchfinder General is my favorite character.

[@generalsherman519]

For me it's Klaus

[@mathewkelly9968]

As an Australian descendent of Irish convicts he horrifies me .

[@blakemeding7917]

Look up the "Witchfinder General" and "Matthew Hopkins" He was a real guy who instigated the witch-hunting hysteria that happened in England in the early 1600s. It is very interesting.

[@cj_m2477]

As a Bostonian, I think that by saying Plymouth wasn’t first you are most certainly flying in the face of God. Having said said that, I believe you are quickly becoming my favorite You tube historian. Thank you for your unique perspective and entertaining video.

[@kneelingcatholic]

Excellent video!!! I only recently realized how much the plymouth/jamestown template shaped the way people thought back then... from Jefferson Davis' inaugural address... "Our enemies are a traditionless and a homeless race; from the time of Cromwell to the present moment they have been disturbers of the peace of the world. Gathered together by Cromwell from the bogs and fens of the North of Ireland and of England, they commenced by disturbing the peace of their own country; they disturbed Holland, to which they fled, and they disturbed England on their return. They persecuted Catholics in England, and they hung Quakers and witches in America."

[@maxtyler8993]

Reminds me of the time I went to Plymouth Colony and got the militia captain to go on a 10 minute rant about papists and how they're on the side of the devil.

[@JohnDoe-jq4re]

As a Marylander this is so interesting because we learned about both pretty equally and seem to identify with both about the same

[@douglasdea637]

It is too easy to want to point at a single town and say "that was the beginning of America." Yes, Plymouth was too small, particularly when half of the colonists died that first winter (only some 50-odd people remained by summer 1621.) It was what came in the next 20-40 years that really mattered. More ships with tens of thousands more colonists. The people that came and settled in America, in early Massachusetts mostly, then bred like rabbits. Families of 10+ children were common. Plymouth is less important than Barnstable, Eastham, Boston, Scituate, Gloucester, Salem, Newbury, Ipswich, Rowley, Boxford and points westward. But we like definitive points in time and place. Plymouth in 1620 is easy. The Massachusetts coastline of 1623 - 1690 is too "squishy" and ill-defined to think about. "Hometown"? Nah. Home region, yes. As an aside, if you want to dig into American settlement more and understand what makes America what it is today I recommend David Hackett Fischer's book Albion's Seed. In short: Fischer describes four great waves of immigration from England to America during the 1600s and 1700s and how those waves shaped the nation.

[@JMM33RanMA]

I actually learned to despise the Puritans as much from Hawthorne's writing as from dry historical accounts. The House of Seven Gables and other works are really dark, but provide a window into the creepy souls, subhuman behavior and corrupt practices of the Puritans. And if they be my ancestors, I condemn them for what they were in truth. One should not defend one's own when they behave abominably, and that applies to family, ancestors, friends, church, party and miscreant that you may have voted for. If you defend barbarism, you 𝕒𝕣𝕖 a barbarian.

[@JMM33RanMA]

@Luís Filipe Andrade I did not mean it as a compliment. Barbarism is the opposite of civilized behavior, i.e. equal rights for all and treating others humanely, as one wants to be treated oneself.

[@Tareltonlives]

Massasoit: Well, there goes the neighborhood

[@zenzenulous2243]

@@JMM33RanMA mate you might want to check out the new atun shei video

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@zenzenulous2243 If you mean the one that starts out with Stefan Milo, yes, it was great, but only slightly modified my opinion of some of my possible ancestors.

[@orfeoball3015]

Perhaps, Dutch Capitalism represents our american creed. We want the money, our global capitalist empire is the perfect offspring of the West India Co. and British colonialism. New Amsterdam represents us best, Ethnically diverse, a melting pot. NY represents one of the major american ideals material wealth. Great job on the vids you are informative and entertaining. Loved the jamestown accent pre great vowel shift!

[@Delgen1951]

@CommandoDude yes with Europe well on its way to becoming the Northwest califate.

[@maneatingcheeze]

@CommandoDude Oddly, religious fanaticism in modern America stems more from the various Great Awakenings. The first established American Protestantism as a separate entity from that of English and more broadly European forms in the mid 1700's. It even had some rumblings of an early idea of a christian unity/christian values and an uneasy acceptance of the enlightenment. This was followed by the most important Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century that established Mormonism and was marked by a religious rejection of the enlightenment and an embracing of romanticism. This is the crucible in which modern American culture was born.

[@chrisholland7367]

The honourable east india company . The Hudson bay company .

[@TheJTcreate]

_-----> "Perhaps, Dutch Capitalism represents our american creed. We want the money, our global capitalist empire is the perfect offspring of the West India Co. and British colonialism." Mercantilism, not Capitalism. Rudimentary forms of Capitalism didn't start to evolve within the colonies until the Mid-to-late 18th Century and didn't start to sweeping through nations until the 19th century (after Adam Smith published "wealth of Nations" in 1776.). But the Dutch West India Company is actually a product of Mercantilism. Mercantilism is basically Corporatism on massive Steroids. Its the European system that fed Colonialism. Yes, distinguishing between the two is actually very important, especially if you want the cultural shifts and evolution within both Europe and the Colonies. The Boston tea party wasn't just a political revolt, it was an economic revolt. It was Mercantilism vs Capitalism. The Monopolizing East Indian trading company (and the crown) vs Colonial independent shops and businesses.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

@@maneatingcheeze Nah.

[@GoGreen1977]

I'm descended from Puritans on both sides of my family tree that settled initially in the Massachusetts colonies in the 1630s. I have some Huguenot and Dutch Protestant lineage, too. My ancestors started in New England and ended up in Michigan. One of my great-great grandfathers fought under Grant in the Battle of Shiloh and was mortally wounded. I can assure you in my family, the Puritan and pro-Union "heritages" were strong in my family until recently. Now, due to marriages and relocations around the US, my extended family has become much more diverse. The younger generations, at least for now, have little if any interest in their ancestors. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

[@thucydides7849]

It’s cool how they used the original settling as their sort of creation myth. Similar to the ancient Greeks, who all had to come up with a story of how they are related to Heracles or someone in Homers works

[@ChienaAvtzon]

The irony is that the North are the free-market capitalists, and the South is deeply religious.

[@LordVader1094]

@@ChienaAvtzon Back during the civil war, both were religious and capitalists.

[@SomasAcademy]

Ay, this video just happened to be released while I'm staying in Williamsburg, a few minutes drive from the Jamestown settlement.

[@patrickvanmeter3318]

I am so happy I found this channel from your critique of Brandon F's The Patriot video. I am sure you hear this constaintly but please more Witchfinder General, I must have showed the Christmas video to atleast a dozen people over the holidays.

[@sjurjans7137]

Can't get enough of your history videos... How you act them out is so unique ...just love it ♥️

[@KingPhased]

I love watching your videos because it really gives me ideas to "chew on" for a few days. Keep up the good work!

[@markolajesic7359]

As a history teacher I really like your presentation, keep it up! P.S. I am also a Serbian Orthodox :-)

[@funkoverload9488]

Dear, Witch Finder General, while I certainly do agree with ye and yer ever godly pursuit, have ye considered the burnin' o' witches in stead of wood? Studyin' the Bible o'er the light, bein' literal an' metaphorical, o' the very holy work ye set about is sure to be pleasin' tae the Laird, and is sure tae save pounds for new bibles tae keep us warm wi' the Laird's love o'er the winter months.

[@Delgen1951]

Dude No American witches ever burned they were hung, burning them was a very German thing.

[@RobbyGAMEZ]

@@Delgen1951 Lmao damn right them witches was hung! Giles Corey was def packin that schmeat

[@davidwright7193]

Delgen1951 Catholic’s? Witches? Why wouldst a godly man such as thou divide the children of lucifer they are all ungodly and so their souls must be cleansed by fire in this world or the next as the Lord wills it.

[@RobbyGAMEZ]

monny287 I’m making a penis joke

[@GeoffChisholm]

@@RobbyGAMEZ I say unto thee, "whoosh!"

[@TJH615]

Witchfinder actual is a spectacular character. The performance is amazing, outstanding! Bravo 👏

[@danielweed1548]

Absolutely brilliant! (Bacon's Rebellion of 1675-6 was the greatest impetus for chattel slavery but that doesn't discount the previous use of african slaves/indentured servants.) The "Sot-Weed Factor" (1701) has some great insights on how Europeans viewed the 'cosmopolitan' new world.

[@cara5730]

I just discovered your channel and I have to say, it is fantastic. Very educational, yet still comprehensive to viewers. But you go the extra mile by adding humor and tangible passion for the subject! Seriously impressed!

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Thank you so much :)

[@sceptre1067]

lol as a youth I refereed to the Jamestown reenactment as Pewterburg. Just too set and pat... but thanks to you now have a better appreciation for the staff.

[@vercingetorix3414]

New Amsterdam, founded in 1624 (four years after Plymouth) was the true birthplace of religious tolerance in the future US.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Rubbish I've been to actual Amsterdam, Catholics weren't tolerated by the Dutch in the 1600s

[@vercingetorix3414]

@@mathewkelly9968 I've been to "actual Amsterdam " as well. WTF does that have to do with it? I don't know much about "actual Amsterdam" in 1600, but I do know a lot about Nieuw Amsterdam in 1620, 30, 40, and 50! Catholics were tolerated in that colony, as well as other religious "minorities" of that time. Nrw Amsterdam was a bastion of religious freedom, unknown in the New World, or any other world for that matter, before the advent of William Penn in America many years later.

[@vercingetorix3414]

@@mathewkelly9968 Incidentally, Anne Hutchinson, a religious dissenter, was expelled from Massachusetts, and then from her own settlement of Rhode Island for her religious beliefs. She settled in the tolerant colony of New Amsterdam, which tolerated her religious non conformity, but was killed by Native Americans in 1643 in the religiously tolerant colony of New Amsterdam.

[@ultramarinescaptain3840]

@@mathewkelly9968 He said New Amesterdam, as in Amesterdam but new, which was later conquered by the British, and renamed New York, which is York but new.

[@soulman4292]

Dude, your videos are excellent. Truly, as soon as I have some extra cash I’m going to toss you some on patreon. I love your characters, and your accuracy to the facts of history. Thank you. You’ve made many happy times with myself, and my fiancé during quarantine.

[@americannomads706]

"Where is America's Hometown?" St. Augustine :)

[@Wolfoe-ex2jj]

Even if our own nation forgot us, Spain remembers and takes pride in us. Yay St Aug, giant crosses, giant churches, and infinite numbers of seafood restaurants

[@Lawnmower737]

Finally someone who really knows. St. Augustine was the first successful colony

[@jennaolbermann7663]

This has been a very interesting presentation, I hadn’t considered the differences between areas of America based on the original settlers. It makes a lot of sense.

[@gollygoshdarn]

I managed to write at least one paper a year from 8th grade to my first year of college using "Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways Into America" by David Hackett Fischer. No regrets.

[@volkerwendt3061]

Wow, that was brilliant, loved it.

[@tontoschwartz6916]

quite excellent, well done documentary on this subject, AND highly intelligent, thank you, PLUS funny as heck LOL

[@gilbertogonzalezr9353]

I came across this channel by accident and got hooked. Awesome historical views of our history, u make it fun to watch and easy to learn from, with great insights

[@scotta6823]

This is incredibly excellent. Plain spoken and extremely well informed

[@seastormsinger]

Witchfinder General is my villain Bae. I could watch him joyfully all day because I love hating him so much.

[@vincivedivicilextalionas4036]

St.Augustine distillery is awesome. I have their t-shirt still lol

[@festungkurland9804]

My favorite St. Augustine joke is The British show up to take over and ask how long the Spanish have been there. Upon hearing the reply and looking around at the city, He asks "What have you been doing all this time?"

[@ericbarlow6772]

Never really went deep into either settlements. Being from North Carolina, we focused more on the settlements here including the lost colony and Fort San Juan which was the first Spanish attempt at an inland colony in North America (1566 if my memory serves).

[@pravcasthistory7888]

Have you read Albion Seed? David Hackett Fischer does an epic analysis of the colonial era and how the different settlers contributed to the overall American culture. I love the content!

[@AtunSheiFilms]

I have not, that sounds cool

[@johncashrocks221]

@@AtunSheiFilms I would say that the things pointed out in his book have almost entirely disappeared in the 21st century US, really sucks, but that's what grotesquely excessive commercialism and capitalism will do to people.

[@pravcasthistory7888]

@@johncashrocks221 Amen to the modern contribution to American culture, but those settler groups and their norms did shape early Colonial/American history.

[@jabscha7051]

That's on my reading list!

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

@@johncashrocks221 I can call you stupid based on your comment.

[@patrickblanchette4337]

3:47 Florida for the win!!! I visited St. Augustine back when I was in fourth grade and I loved it. Florida Pride!!!

[@marthaindahouse1010]

Yay Florida

[@guillaumenoire7059]

St. Augustine is probably the coolest place in North Florida. 10/10 would recommend.

[@guillaumenoire7059]

But Florida in general is shit. Sincerely, a former Jacksonvillain.

[@briangarrow448]

Santa Fe enters the room.

[@Jacob-fk7fx]

@@briangarrow448 go raiders.

[@mickeycz]

dear Sir, may I express unto Thee my gratitude to Thy adequate sense of humeur in bringing forth the informative narrative of historye... really enjoy your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@w41duvernay]

I would love to get a vid on the lost colony of Roanoke, and the aftermath of it disappearing, especially when the news got back to England.

[@geist988]

Your Witchfinder General is fucking fantastic. Thank you for the entertaining historical monologue.

[@Ephisus]

I realized I saw your puritan stuff a long time ago, and didn't recognize you when I came across Lincolnite stuff. That's some strong character work.

[@cactusc9519]

watching these videos and listening to the early and often podcast has been giving me a whole new view and information on colonial era history, so ty very much for these videos! definite thumbs up! and i can see the costume work you put in took some effort and i definitely find it a fascinating part of the videos as a whole.

[@jerrimenard3092]

The part of Maine my mother's family is from did not become part of the USA till the mid 1800's. So, my ancestors on her side, were all from the colony of New France or Acadian New Brunswick. I am the first generation to have English as my 1st language. Everyone older spoke French . My Mother is also part Native. Her people traded with the Vikings. They left a few little presents in some ladies bellies. Thanks Iceland! The blue eyes pop when I am in all black. Also, the love of salmon jerky has been passed down. No worries.

[@obiwankanobi675]

I love this channel oh and by the way first LOL

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Thanks! You were neck and neck with CoolBro

[@bassmangotdbluz3547]

I really enjoy your channel; it's very informational, entertaining and sometimes quite amusing too. You Sir, are absolutely the unchallenged "Captain of the Weiner Patrol" (as Homer Simpson would put it) and I mean that in the nicest possible way if there is one. I truely think that with some professional production you could have a real future in historical documentaries. Cheers!

[@melaniecolgin3705]

Loving your videos, so appreciate your articulate dialogue and knowledge of history. Also, you look like you've definitely got some cool stuff, judging from the background.

[@peterhaag5225]

How have I gone so long without findings this channel this is so lovely. This "argument" is apparent in my own home, my spouse has family connection to Jamestown while I am always a bit proud that I share a name with the only non puritan on the Mayflower Compact

[@rjohnson1690]

Have you read American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Collin Woodard?

[@JMM33RanMA]

I read the original 7 Nations version, and it seems to have become a genre. There are some problems with it, but it does explain why the regional tensions continue to exist. The original one somewhat slights the influence of immigration, though calling the Scots-Irish borderers does explain the suspicion of outsiders and the village in the next valley not to mention the government thought of as "The Enemy." It might also explain Southern and Appalachian people being gun fetishists while New Englanders aren't.

[@karateman302]

So what are the other videos with the Witchfinder General. I need more!

[@browneyedbitch62]

Excellent program. Growing up in the fifties and sixties we were not taught these things. I had to learn about them on my own by reading history. Thank you

[@wolverineeagle]

This is a fantastic video. This needs to be seen by more people.

[@colonial6452]

The Virginia House of Burgesses was functioning prior to the arrival of the "Pilgrims", along with the thanksgiving traditions. The "Pilgrims" were latecomers on the scene, as this video points out. They landed in Massachusetts due to running out of beer on the Mayflower.

[@DderwenWyllt]

I always get annoyed when someone says (insert native) saw a ship and was unable to physically see the ship because it was "so outside their realm of understanding". My grandmother could see my laptop even though she grew up before her farm and neighbouring village had electricity and people still used horses and carts... Are they seriously suggesting if aliens landed in the middle of London that the entire population would physically not be able to see them because "it is so outside their realm of understanding"...

[@Condobius]

Yeah it’s a very modern thing to say which almost treats pre-modern people as stupid or infantile and unable to process weird shit. It’s like how you’ll always hear people talking about how they would become a king if they just had a pistol or something in the Middle Ages because everyone would think it’s sorcery and surrender to them. There’s a sci-fi story floating around somewhere where an American soldier stationed in Cold War Iceland gets stuck in a thunder storm and gets transported back to the 9th century. The Norse peoples he meets pretty quickly think he’s an effeminate loser with no real relevant skills to their lifestyle that could make him useful, and even his gun is only initially impressive until they’ve seen it in action twice and understand that it’s a loud ranged weapon. Eventually, he gets killed through a series of bad moves and cultural misunderstandings. I say this because that’s basically how pre-modern people would process a massive boat. They might be confused and wary initially, but my god they could figure out pretty quick by just observing it. They wouldn’t be stunned into some existential terror or be unable to even comprehend the thing or any such nonsense.

[@LordVader1094]

@@Condobius What's the name of that story? Sounds like literally the most realistic example written of what would occur if you time travelled to the past.

[@Condobius]

@@LordVader1094 KZbin deleted my comment so I won’t type it all out again, but it’s called “The Man Who Came Early” by Poul Anderson. Great story and short. Doesn’t treat pre-modern people like primitive savages, but instead people highly intelligent when it comes to the conditions of their own lives. Conditions which a time traveler doesn’t understand and therefore completely fails in. A great antidote to all those stupid reddit threads about how you could conquer a medieval society with just a bowl of spaghetti or an iPhone.

[@MrDSK4]

I really love your style of storytelling!

[@ericisprobablyfullofshit7797]

I just realized I hadn't subscribed so I fixed that and then hit "like" before I even watched this video because, yeah, I'm gonna like it. You're pretty damn consistent that way.

[@keithorbell8946]

I’ve just stumbled across your channel. Being English, apart from little bits of American History ( the War of 1812 was a draw, by the way 😉), I know very little of the background of the development of the 13 Colonies into the USA. We are taught of the voyage of the Mayflower and the Pilgrim Fathers, and then jump 160 years to the War of Independence! Thank you for helping to expand my knowledge.

[@milostadic7091]

I started watching all of your videos and when you said you were half serbian, I have to call you a brother(sounds maybe funny, but we look at everyone who is even 1% Serb as one of us ahahahahah) Love the videos, especially the 1811 slave revolt one, so interesting

[@RGL01]

Just discovered your channel. You are an excellent historian!!!

[@metalman6708]

This channel needs and deserves more subscribers!

[@killergm6962]

Jamestown had been around for something like 13 years before the Mayflower even showed up (plus my ancestors arrived in Jamestown around 1680). So I vote Jamestown.

[@jonathanstern5537]

You did miss one thing that would have further drove home your point. The Puritans originally went to Holland, which was incredibly tolerant of other religions. They stayed there for years only leaving when certain members of their religion were befriending non-Puritans and questioning their own religious beliefs.

[@prestonpulliam8053]

Not sure why but I Love the Witchfinder's accent. I have no idea the accuracy of the pronunciation but just the fact your are trying and doing whatever you are doing so well makes me really enjoy when he shows up in your videos.

[@trynnallen]

I just discovered this channel and I have been watching. Love the topics, love the costumes, love the narration and love the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy collection in the upper left hand corner of the bookshelf. As for oversimplification and narrative, John Smith had a pretty good hand in that too. His narratives of his "explorations" of the Chesapeake Bay are gross oversimplifications of the interactions of the local nations and treaties there in.

[@nathangale7702]

I think if Americans learned to appreciate and respect the variety of cultures within the union, it would go a long way to us getting along better with each other.

[@jeffnikolaus5966]

Perhaps look into the history of St Mary's City in Maryland founded 1634, specifically the acts of tolerance.

[@willzamora2892]

Awesome vid!

[@basilreid257]

Outstanding presentation funny snd informative well acted too. It puts the viewer in history.

[@somethingsomethingusername802]

Were Puritans *really* escaping religious persecution though? Like the way this has always been phrased made it seem as if they were victims of some treacherous plot to exterminate all Puritans.

[@melissahughes4205]

Puritans made a lot of enemies by being very vocal critics of everyone else's religion (or lack thereof, according to Puritan standards) and by seeking political clout for themselves in order to *make* everyone else give up their sinful ways. Separatist Puritans like our good friend the Witchfinder were warm and fuzzy compared to the Parliamentarians who beheaded King Charles I.

[@1redrider100]

Puritans didn’t just want to practice in peace. They wanted to reform society and change the world around them. In the Netherlands, they had basically unlimited rights to practice as they please, but the “degenerate society” as they saw it, refused to change and they made a lot of unofficial enemies and political opponents by trying to push for bans on all sorts of vices. England was definitely not using the kiddy gloves but it wasn’t like Catholics with the Cathars. It was more about grabbing political power and protecting the legitimacy of the crown. Criticizing the King for being a hedonistic sinner was much more of a problem than their personal beliefs in a post-Westphallia era.

[@kcoup1626]

It's one of the great "myths of America" and it is utter hogwash. We glorify the Pilgrims as "fighters for religious freedom" when really they wanted to establish their own Theocracy: almost the exact OPPOSITE of what we consider America to be.

[@Callsign_Prophet]

@@kcoup1626 There's myths behind every countries founding. That one is just to help justify religious freedom in the constitution.

[@Jarjarjar21]

@@melissahughes4205 One of my very great grandpas was Sir Hardress Waller, Regicde who signed the kings death warrant. Others were my grandmas Babcock folk who were early founders of Westerly RI. ...

[@paulcoy9060]

5:18 As a New Englander, never before have I been so offended by something I 100% agree with.

[@Mosca_Tube]

Awesome video

[@islak1847]

Just catching up with a lot of your films. Only found this channel a few weeks ago, but I am really impressed seeing the Great Douglas Adams name on the bookshelf behind you there. Your Videos are great too.

[@whyjon2990]

"the cosmopolitan debauchery of the coastal cities" xD not only did that have me dying laughing, it was good to hear after realizing lost cause might not be what i wanted it to be.

[@kennztube]

It was cosmopolitan deuchbaggery! Let’s have it right!

[@sageh9474]

It's kind of disappointing that you didn't mention that the pilgrims were originally headed to Jamestown but were blown off-course. Kind of an important detail.

[@jsplivjspliv5247]

Eye opening high level analysis.

[@danielpaulus-petrus2357]

Such a good video.

[@gobsauce84]

Growing up nahth of Boston, I died when the witch hunter general got on lol 😂