I know better than to question your knowledge. lol<br/><br/>I would agree that the pilgrims, who weren't the first colonist, weren't particularly intelligent, but then,  (and don't quote me), if I remember my long, long, long ago history classes, the pilgrims were suppose to land in Virginia, not so far north as massuchetts. They set out at a bad time of year, had bad weather in the crossing and was more or less blown into the harbor well beyond the expected time and well north of what they had planned for. Their slaves actually made it to the right place.<br/><br/>Another facet is that the soil is significantly different than england's and they had already lost the late planting season when they arrived... overall, it was badly planned and everything went against them.<br/><br/>As for the native Americans, they are still around, but thanks to the expanssionist views of the 19th century, they were forced onto the worst land in the country and most aren't exactly in the middle-range income range. But I respect them simply because they refuse to give up their culture and don't go around blaming everyone for their situation... although they have more right than anyone else in the country. They got a really raw deal in the end.