I recall reading that in the early days of colonization in America there was a colony that set up a communist government. “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”

After years of increasingly bad results the colony abandoned Communism. When that produced a plentiful harvest the colony had a feast. A day of thanksgiving, beginning the American holiday.

Does anyone know if that story is reasonably correct?

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. Does anyone know if that story is reasonably correct?

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"William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 120--21

1623
All this while no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expect any. So they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor (with the advice of the chiefest amongst them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves; in all other things to go on in the general way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, for that end, only for present use (but made no division for inheritance) and ranged all boys and youth under some family. This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.

The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young men, that were most able and fit for labour and service, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalized in labours and victuals, clothes, etc., with the meaner and younger sort, thought it some indignity and disrespect unto them. And for men's wives to be commanded to do service for other men, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brook it. Upon the point all being to have alike, and all to do alike, they thought themselves in the like condition, and one as good as another; and so, if it did not cut off those relations that God hath set amongst men, yet it did at least much diminish and take off the mutual respects that should be preserved amongst them. And would have been worse if they had been men of another condition. Let none object this is men's corruption, and nothing to the course itself. I answer, seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in His wisdom saw another course fitter for them."

https://press-pubs.uchicago.ed...uments/v1ch16s1.html

While many colonies were of a communal/collectivist/utopian* nature, "Communism" (capital C/formal) as an economic and political system was prompted by the later Industrial Revolution and didn't exist until the mid-1800s, which was ~150-200 years after the early colonial period in America.

*"Utopian" in this context is specifically referring to being inspired by Thomas More's 16th century semi-satirical/semi-philosophical treatise Utopia, which described a fictional idealized island nation in which all goods were warehoused centrally and provided to folks as their needs required, and all folks labored in agriculture or a trade for the good of everyone. It was one of the sources of inspiration for the later Socialist movement, which itself eventually begat Communism.

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Originally posted by werzjon229:

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. Does anyone know if that story is reasonably correct?

"William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 120--21
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Thank you.

Note that werzjon299's reference above to Bradford's account of a switch from communal farming to individual farming in Plymouth colony is dated 1623, while the original Thanksgiving feast in Plymouth took place 2 years earlier in 1621, as also accounted by Bradford himself in the same book.

So a post-communal harvesting boom in 1623 could not have been the start of the Thanksgiving tradition. Instead, it was the (still communal) harvest of 1621 that was being celebrated at the first Thanksgiving, their first harvest after they had established Plymouth in December 1620 and then lost half their population over the immediate winter.

It is a peculiar notion, although common to many, that every person should be of equal ability and thus deserve an equal reward. Of course, the truth is that some can jump higher, some can run faster, some are inclined to work harder, and (dare I say it) some can think better. Such a philosophy is contrary to improvement in life conditions, and ultimately obstructs general success.

Do not forget this when presented with a proposition that purports to improve the "greater good." These ideas never raise the floor, but can never do more than lower the ceiling on improvement.

It's the celebration of the dissolution of the Mayflower Compact, the first socialist doctrine in America.

Good riddance!

All this codswattle about the indians and kumbaya. Total horseshit!

I think there is a difference between communal cooperation and communism. They may look identical on the surface but communism lacks the element of voluntary participation.

Jeff Childers had this to say today.

https://www.coffeeandcovid.com...-conspiracy-thursday

The Jamestown settlement was earlier and tried the communal property idea. It failed and nearly caused the death of them. Stephen Hopkins was in Jamestown as an indentured servant to the minister, and returned to England after witnessing the before and after "socialism" experiment. That was in about 1611.

Then in 1620 he was on the Mayflower as one of the Pilgrims to Plymouth. He is credited with getting Plymouth turned around when their communal experiment was failing.