What reason does William Bradford give for the separatists' growing sense that they needed to leave Holland and possibly journey to America

Answer 1

William Bradford gives several reasons for the separatists' growing sense that they needed to leave Holland and potentially journey to America.

Firstly, he highlights the economic difficulties faced by the separatists in Holland. Despite their best efforts, many of them struggled to find steady employment and make ends meet. The prospect of poverty and financial instability weighed heavily on them.

Secondly, Bradford mentions the concern of the separatists about losing their English identity and cultural heritage in Holland. They worried that their children were being influenced by the Dutch way of life and language, and that they would eventually assimilate and lose their English roots entirely.

Additionally, Bradford emphasizes the separatists' desire to find a place where they could freely practice their religion without interference or persecution. While they were able to worship in Holland, they were still subjected to discrimination and saw the Dutch culture as a threat to their religious identity.

Lastly, Bradford notes the separatists' broader aspiration to establish a haven where they could live in accordance with their religious beliefs and create a community based on their own principles and values. They saw America as a land of opportunity where they could establish a new society rooted in their faith.

Overall, the culmination of economic hardships, cultural concerns, religious aspirations, and the allure of a fresh start led the separatists to believe that leaving Holland and journeying to America was their best course of action.