Colonial settlements shared very few similarities. In fact, the single uniting trait that they all had in common was what continent they were settled upon. Two regions, the Chesapeake Bay area and New England, both developed with significant variations. The differences in societal development between the New England Colonies and the Chesapeake Bay Colonies was due to the difference in the primary religion of the majority of settlers in the specific area and the people who desired to settle there which would help lead to the development of vastly different societies in the areas, the difference in climate, soil fertility and availability of resources in each area which would lead to the development of two different economies, and the form of …show more content…
The difference in climate, the fertility of the soil, and the availability of natural resources in each area caused for vastly different economies to develop. The warm-weathered climate in the Chesapeake Bay coupled with the quality of soil in the region and the availability of the tobacco plant already existing in the area was perfect for the development of the tobacco industry, which soon became the primary focus of the scores of mostly men who were attempting to work in the region. Because tobacco was harvested on large plantations, the farming society required workers. This need for labor provided a means for those in debt in England to travel to the new world, paving the way for slews of men to be left in disarray once their designated periods of servitude ended and suddenly they were thrust into the life of a poor farmer. In New England, the soil quality and weather was much less lucrative. Crops such as tobacco or sugar couldn’t survive the cold weather or rocky topsoil, so colonists had to find other means to make money. Out of this dilemma rose the development of the lumber, fishing, and fur pelt trade. The availability of lumber for ships, the abundance of fish in the area, and the rich pelts of the northeastern wildlife helped lead to the development of an economy that became focused on a merchant …show more content…
Those who held power in the church also held political power, with the ability to sway the opinions of the masses due to their religious authority. The basis of laws in the local government came from the religious laws practiced by the colonists, and although only male freemen-- that is all male members of the Puritan Church-- had the right to vote, because of the religious reasoning the remaining population of the area (women and children) couldn’t argue. However, because of the differences in religious beliefs in the Chesapeake Bay area, there was no one act of laws which could be implemented into the governing of all individuals in the region. This led to constant dispute over who should be represented and have suffrage, and who shouldn’t. Before Virginia was subdivided in 1632, the primary governing body in the colony was the Virginia House of Burgesses. After King Charles I split the region, an assembly developed in the new proprietary colony, Maryland. However the rich Catholics of the region were heavily outnumbered by Protestant farmers, so Cecil Calvert pushed the assembly for a bill that would give religious freedom to all Christians, otherwise known as the Act of Toleration. Although it was repealed after a short civil war, it represented another difference in society from New England, in which any religion other
THE MARKET ECONOMY IN PORT CITIES During 1740s and 1760s, the port cities along the Northern American continent went through drastic economic changes as new goods became available to the common colonists, and more opportunities came into alive for the merchants and apprentice who possessed the skills to satisfy the increasing demand. Two major groups that benefited greatly from this change in the market economy are the female colonists and the underrepresented slaves and servants. Unlike their counterparts in Europe, slaves and women were engaged in the society as providers of not only skills and labors, but also other commodities, including both legal and illegal ones. Merchants like John Hull, a mint-master of New England, believed that
Its early settlements and populations centers tended to cluster around the rivers and other waterways that empty into the Chesapeake Bay and, like Virginia, Maryland's economy quickly became centered on the cultivation of tobacco, for sale in Europe. The need for cheap labor, and later with the mixed farming economy that developed when tobacco prices collapsed, led to a rapid expansion of indentured servitude, penal transportation, and forcible immigration and enslavement of
Tobacco was the basis of economic life and a motivation for settling down in Jamestown. This helped result in an increase of settlers. The English expansion sparked war in 1622 led by Opechancanough. This war resulted in a tragic death of about a third of the nation. Particularly, the English inhabitants seized Indian’s land and food, cornering the Indian citizens towards limiting possibilities; needless to say they ended up dispersing.
These colonies came across numerous hardships with war, famine, and political turmoil, in the 1600’s. These colonies worked for commercial purposes and neglected the need for relationship building with natives, safety, and resource gathering, so much so that they lost many early settlers. Working as an indentured servant was brutal in these colonies. Growing, storing, and packaging tobacco was very labor intensive work. Though indentured servants maintained contracts providing them with food, housing, and clothing, often times terms of service were lengthened.
The thirteen colonies, which were divided into 3 regions, were all different and unique in many ways. However, the diversity among the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies is perhaps what made them so distinctive. The differences between these three regions affected the way they lived, but later, they gained knowledge by analyzing their mistakes and differences. Although these three regions only had a few things in common, it was the differences among them that helped them grow and learn from one another.
Early American colonies were the base of what it is now known the United States of America. Although almost all of the colonies were from the same time period each colony differed from each other. Some of the colonies differed by their economic system and also by their way of running their colony, their government. Also, the colonies differed from their culture and their way they lived. In addition, the New England and the Chesapeake colonies were not the exception they also differed from each other.
Each colonial region was distinct in its own way. That is largely because of the pattern of colonization that occurred from 1607 to the early 1700 's. But if you really break it down, societies in the colonies were separated either economically or religiously. New England societies were primarily founded on religious views which created covenant communities originally based off of the Mayflower Compact. The people of New England colonies (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire) saw no real difference between separation of church and state.
Although they have numerous differences their characteristics resulted from one important factor, which is, the reason the settlers came to the New World. This had an impact on the settlement, economically, socially, and politically. Settlements in the Chesapeake region included Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the New Jerseys. The first English colony, Jamestown,
In New England, there was no such thing as religious tolerance. Everyone was required to be part of the Church of England whether they believed or not. This led to a disagreement among those who believed that those who were not “visible saints” should not be allowed to worship in the same place as those who were. These colonists were referred to as the Separatists because they eventually separated from the Church of England. Those who chose to stay with the church were called Puritans, although that term could technically be used to describe both.
The colonies of Massachusetts and Virginia were a start of the new world for England. These were founded by similar people but, with their strikingly differences, grew into separate political, economic and social structures. Both settlements arose from over-crowdedness in England: people wanted a better life. Virginia was settled by men who were single and looking for opportunities and wealth. They were part of the Anglican religion.
Another similarity between the English provinces in the Chesapeake region and in New England is the connections they had with Native Americans. Beginning encounters were civilized along with some trade and education exchange as well. After the time, however, British colonies wanted control of as much land as possible and battles/fights developed against the
Both the Chesapeake colonies and the New England colonies were vital to Britain’s atlantic trade. They both had large populations and booming economies. However, they both eventually established their own cultures that were different from each other. The colonies’ differing beliefs, environments, and labor lead to the contrasting cultures. The New England Colonies were a Puritanical society, who preached against excess.
There were different regions in North America: The New England Colonies and Chesapeake Colonies. All of them were led by alternate goals and dreams of their founders. The question however, is very close to “How did they all develop differently if they came from the same place?” The colonies developed in an array of ways, their reasons for establishment were different, they upheld their economies differently, and all had different perspectives over religion and politics.
The New England and Chesapeake colonies were established during the early 1700s. Despite the population originating from England, the regions had distinct societies. This was due to the fact that many settlers voyaged to the New World in search of riches, to seek new lives, or for religious freedom. They differed socially, politically, economically, and geographically.
Though Christopher Columbus was not the first to discover the Incipient World, his landing in the Incipient World in 1492 was consequential: it commenced a period kenned as the Age of Exploration. During this age, European explorers strived to find trade routes and acquire wealth from the Incipient World. Unlike most European countries, England got such a tardy start in the colonization game. As a result, English settlements were concentrated along the East Coast of North America. Among the prosperous English colonies, two categorically paramount English colonies were Jamestown (in modern day Virginia) and Massachusetts Bay Colony.