Experiments in Socialism in the New World Failed Miserably

—or—

Here’s Why Thanksgiving Is a Great Time to Discover the Truth About Socialism

A PDF file of this slide is available here.

In the early 1600s, settlers at both Jamestown and Plymouth initially sought to produce food and wealth according to a communal system. Workers contributed the fruits of their labors to a “common store” on which all relied. This approach pushed both settlements to the brink of starvation. The people knew they would starve if they continued operating this way, so they assigned land directly to individuals and families, who then could reap the benefits of their own work. After this change, both communities prospered. History proves socialism leads to bondage and misery, and that free enterprise promotes freedom and prosperity.

Plymouth

Ditching Socialism in the New World: A Lesson for 21^st-Century Americans ~ PDF file
This article is a guest post by Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Settlement, as presented primarily in his account of the adventures of the Pilgrims titled Of Plymouth Plantation, and paraphrased by B. Nathaniel Sullivan

“Ditching Socialism”: Related Resources

- - - “Ditching Socialism” is available as a downloadable MP3 audio file on the article page.
    - Why the Pilgrims Were Especially Thankful in 1623: A Discussion Guide ~ PDF file
      This post presents a discussion guide for families and friends to use as they gather together this Thanksgiving. You can use it to learn about and talk about some of the Pilgrims’ hardships during the first two years they lived at Plymouth. Also highlighted is an important victory they celebrated at the end of those two years.
    - Thank God for Free Enterprise! ~ This is a Thanksgiving-themed Bible study exploring issues raised in the article “Ditching Socialism in the New World: A Lesson for 21^st-Century Americans.”

The events at Plymouth don’t just refute socialism; they also refute racism and critical race theory. Here are two additional articles exploring these themes.

Spitting in God’s Face: Making Believers Feel Guilty when they Ought to Be Thankful, Part 1 ~ PDF file

Spitting in God’s Face: Making Believers Feel Guilty when they Ought to Be Thankful, Part 2 ~ PDF file

Jamestown

A Look Back at Jamestown Shows Why the Social Justice Movement and Socialism, Despite All Their Appeals to Justice, Are Inherently Unjust ~ PDF file

This article has been revised and rereleased in two parts:

- - - Captain John Smith Saved Jamestown from Extinction by Implementing an Important Biblical Principle ~ PDF file
    - Socialism and Social Justice: Inherently Unjust ~ PDF file

A Concise Summary of What Happened in Plymouth and in Jamestown

The Experiments in Socialism at Jamestown and Plymouth Fail ~ This page carries a quotation from Alvin Schmidt’s landmark work, How Christianity Changed the World

Additional Resources

Four Bible Verses that Destroy Socialism and Uphold Free Enterprise
A one-page PDF file of this article is available here.
An expanded version of this article is available here.

Principles of Economic Liberty: The Biblical Case for Free Enterprise
A Six-Session Bible Study Series

top image credit: 1920 U.S. stamp celebrating the Pilgrim Tercentenary