"Rugged Individual" and "Community Builder
The development of the American character developed over a long time. Since the ancient time, Native American lived in North America; later, the British colonized America. This colonial period played an important part of the development of the American character, creating the two halves—“rugged individual” and “community builder.” John Smith led Jamestown to establish the “rugged individual”, which believes the special strength of individual; the New England’s Massachusetts Colony leaders William Bradford and John Winthrop helped to create the “community builder”, which inspires Americans to share wealth and values in order to survive and thrive.
The Jamestown settlement was colonized by English colonists. John Smith rose to leadership position in Jamestown when the colonists needed. An experienced soldier and sailor, he possessed courage, ambition and confidence. In New England’s Massachusetts, William Bradford and John Winthrop led the colony to prosper. William Bradford helped to write the Mayflower Compact, a social contract on which the first American settlement based. Since then, the colonists combined together in a “civil body politic” to frame just and equal laws for the general good of the colony. William Bradford went on to be the governor of the Plymouth Colony for 35 years. During that time, he helped to create a form of government in which people guided their own affairs. In the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, one of the founder of the colony and later the first governor of Massachusetts, inspired people to share values and thrives. He foresaw America would become an example to people around the world. Leadership performs a necessary part of the colonies, even a country. The leaders of the first two colonies demonstrated the importance of leadership. They lead the governments, issue the policies and supervise the society. John Smith used “rugged individual” to govern the Jamestown and obtained some good effect; William Bradford and John Winthrop created the “community builder”, which encourages “commonwealth of families”, made New England colonies to attract more people to come here and lived fairly comfortable lives. Americans respect the leaders who have good ideas of administering the region and bring them into effect.
