Changes

==Economy==

==Economy==

The largest source of wealth for Plymouth Colony was the fur trade.  The disruption of this trade caused by Miles Standish's raid at Wessagusset created great hardship for the colonists for many years to come, and was directly cited by William Bradford as a contributing factor to the colonists economic difficulties in their early years.<ref name=wess/> The colonists attempted to supplement their income by fishing; the waters in Cape Cod bay were known to be excellent fisheries. However, they lacked any skill in this endeavor, and it made little impact on their economic situation<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 136</ref>  The colony traded throughout the region, establishing trading posts as far away as [[Penobscot, Maine]].  They also were frequent trading partners with the Dutch at [[New Amsterdam]].<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 199-200</ref>

The largest source of wealth for Plymouth Colony was the fur trade.  The disruption of this trade caused by Miles Standish's raid at Wessagusset created great hardship for the colonists for many years to come, and was directly cited by William Bradford as a contributing factor to the colonists economic difficulties in their early years. The colonists attempted commercial fishing. They failed; although there were plent of fish but a shortage of fishermasn skills.<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 136</ref>  The colony traded throughout the region, establishing trading posts as far away as [[Penobscot, Maine]].  They also were frequent trading partners with the Dutch at [[New Amsterdam]].<ref>Philbrick (2006), pp 199-200</ref>

The economic situation improved with the arrival of cattle in the colony.  It is unknown when the first cattle arrived, but the division of land for the grazing of cattle in 1627 represented one of the first moves towards private land ownership in the colony.<ref>Deetz and Deetz (2000), pp 77-78. The first mention of cattle occurs with the arrival of "three heifers and a bull" in 1624, but there is some doubt as to whether this was the first cattle in the colony</ref>.  Cattle became an important source of wealth in the colony; the average cow was selling for ₤20-28 apiece in 1638.  However, the flood of immigrants during the Great Migration drove the price of cattle down, causing a collapse of the Plymouth economy. The same cows selling for up to ₤28 in 1638 were valued at only ₤5 in 1640.<ref>{{cite web | last = Chartier | first = Charles S. | title = Livestock in Plymouth Colony | publisher = Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project | url = http://plymoutharch.tripod.com/id133.html | accessdate = 2007-05-03}}</ref>  Besides cattle, there were also pigs, sheep, and goats raised in the colony.  

The economic situation improved with the arrival of cattle in the colony.  It is unknown when the first cattle arrived, but the division of land for the grazing of cattle in 1627 represented one of the first moves towards private land ownership in the colony.<ref>Deetz and Deetz (2000), pp 77-78.</ref>.  Cattle became an important source of wealth in the colony; the average cow was selling for ₤20-28 apiece in 1638.  However, the flood of immigrants during the Great Migration drove the price of cattle down, causing a collapse of the Plymouth economy. Besides cattle, there were also pigs, sheep, and goats raised in the colony. The introduction of European animals had a major impact on the landscape, as the Pilgrims removed forests and built farms and feces, and later dams.<ref> William Cronon, ''Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England'' (2003) </ref>

Agriculture also made up an important part of the Plymouth economy.  The colonists wisely adopted Native American agricultural practices and crops.  They planted [[maize|corn]], [[squash (food)|squash]], [[pumpkin]], [[beans]], and [[potato]].  Besides the crops themselves, the Pilgrims learned valuable farming techinques from the Native Americans, such as proper crop rotation, and the use of dead fish to fertilize the soil.  Besides the native crops, the colonists also successfully planted Old World crops such as turnips, carrots, peas, wheat, barley, and oats.

Agriculture was central to the economy.  The colonists adopted Native American agricultural practices and crops.  They planted [[maize|corn]], [[squash (food)|squash]], [[pumpkin]], [[beans]], and [[potato]].  Besides the crops themselves, the Pilgrims learned valuable farming techinques from the Native Americans, such as proper crop rotation, and the use of dead fish to fertilize the soil.  Besides the native crops, the colonists also successfully planted Old World crops such as turnips, carrots, peas, wheat, barley, and oats.

Overall, there was very little cash in Plymouth Colony, so most wealth was accumulated in the form of possessions.  As seen above, trade goods such as furs, fish, and livestock were subject to fluctuations in price, and so were unreliable repositories of wealth.  Most Plymouth residents accumulated fine wares as a means of holding their wealth.  Goods such as clothes and furnishings represented an important source of economic stability for the residents.<ref>Demos (1970) pp. 52-53</ref>

Overall, there was very little cash in Plymouth Colony, so most wealth was accumulated in the form of possessions.  Trade goods such as furs, fish, and livestock were subject to fluctuations in price, and so were unreliable repositories of wealth.  Most Plymouth residents accumulated fine wares as a means of holding their wealth.  Goods such as clothes and furnishings represented an important source of economic stability for the residents.<ref>Demos (1970) pp. 52-53</ref>

In the early years, sea travel between Duxbury and Marshfield proved to be hazardous and slow. In 1633 John Shaw (1596-1668) and his partners made an agreement with the General Court to build an inland water route from Plymouth to the town of Hanover. A great success, it was enlarged four years later and is still in existence.<ref> Jonathan A. Shaw, "John Shaw of Plymouth Colony, Purchaser and Canal Builder." ''New England Historical and Genealogical Register'' 1997 151(july): 259-285. Issn: 0028-4785 </ref>

In the early years, sea travel between Duxbury and Marshfield proved to be hazardous and slow. In 1633 John Shaw (1596-1668) and his partners made an agreement with the General Court to build canal for an inland water route from Plymouth to the town of Hanover. A great success, it was enlarged four years later and is still in existence.  

Much of William Bradford's ''Of Plymouth Plantation'' (1630-48) treats the financial affairs of the Puritan colonists, especially in relation to the English investors who backed the colony.  Bradford's views on finances and economics are central to his work because they indicate his attitudes toward the burgeoning culture of colonial commerce in which Plymouth Colony was deeply enmeshed, but that clashed with some aspects of Puritan values. The "plain style" Bradford used in his work reflects a Puritan emphasis on truthful uses of language, but it also demonstrates his familiarity with a set of beliefs common throughout English colonial and domestic culture that identified complex uses of language with the deceptive business practices of merchants.<ref> Michelle Burnham, "Merchants, Money, and the Economics of 'Plain Style' in William Bradford's ''Of Plymouth Plantation''."  ''American Literature'' 2000 72(4): 695-720. Issn: 0002-9831 Fulltext: in Project Muse, Swetswise and Ebsco</ref>

Much of William Bradford's ''Of Plymouth Plantation'' (1630-48) treats the financial affairs of the colonists, especially in relation to the English investors who backed the colony.  Bradford's views on finances and economics are central to his work because they indicate his attitudes toward the burgeoning culture of colonial commerce in which Plymouth Colony was deeply enmeshed, but that clashed with some aspects of Puritan values. The "plain style" Bradford used in his work reflects a Puritan emphasis on truthful uses of language, but it also demonstrates his familiarity with a set of beliefs common throughout English colonial and domestic culture that identified complex uses of language with the deceptive business practices of merchants.<ref> Michelle Burnham, "Merchants, Money, and the Economics of 'Plain Style' in William Bradford's ''Of Plymouth Plantation''."  ''American Literature'' 2000 72(4): 695-720. Issn: 0002-9831 Fulltext: in Project Muse, Swetswise and Ebsco</ref>

==Legacy==

==Legacy==