Another question about history ...sry.
But is it accurate to say that the Pilgrims 'started from scratch' when they arrived in America?
Whether the Pilgrims "started from scratch" depends upon how you define this phrase. Here are three definitions I found.
[A] To start from scratch is to begin from the beginning, to set out on some action or process without any prior preparation, knowledge or advantage.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sta4.htm
You are starting from scratch when you start a project from the very beginning.
http://www.goenglish.com/StartFromScratch.asp
to start (again) from the very beginning; also, to start without resources.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/start+from+scratch
As you can see, the definitions vary, depending upon the existence of resources. The Pilgrims had some resources -- both what they brought with them and what the Natives contributed to their colony. On the other hand, the Pilgrims did start the colony from the beginning.
To determine if the Pilgrims started from scratch when they arrived in America, we need to consider a few factors. First, it's important to note that the Pilgrims did not arrive in an uninhabited land. Native American tribes had been living in America for centuries before the arrival of Europeans.
When the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620, they did not have any existing infrastructure or established settlements. They had to build their settlement from the ground up, which could be considered starting from scratch in terms of establishing a new colony. They faced many challenges, including harsh weather, disease, and limited resources.
However, it's also important to acknowledge that the Pilgrims did not start entirely from nothing. They brought supplies and provisions with them on the Mayflower, including tools, weapons, and food. Additionally, they received some aid from the Wampanoag tribe, particularly Squanto, who taught them essential skills like farming and fishing. This assistance from the Natives played a significant role in the Pilgrims' survival and success in the early years.
So, while the Pilgrims did start the Plymouth colony from the beginning and faced numerous hardships, they did not start completely from scratch due to the resources they brought and the assistance they received from the Native Americans.