The Famous Thanksgiving and A Drought P5

One of the initial problems for the Pilgrims in this New World was that they practiced a form of socialism: the fruits of their labor were put into a common pot and split among all. It did not take long for those inclined to laziness to find that this was a system that suited them well; they could receive provisions without working. The result was inefficiency, non-productivity, and injustice. According to Governor Bradford, those who promoted socialism thought “they were wiser than God,” but experience proved they were not.

Jamestown had earlier adopted socialism, and it had been disastrous there as well. Their governor, John Smith, combated that failing system by citing the Biblical principle that, "If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat either” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Content sourced from The American Story, The Beginnings.  By: David Barton and Tim Barton