During the 17th century, after the discovery of North America, Europeans immediately began the journey of colonizing the area. Emerging from these newly established colonies were New England and the Chesapeake. These two areas were built along the Atlantic Coast, housing hundreds of European settlers. However, as the people of New England and the Chesapeake began to construct societies of their own, the differences between the two colonies escalated. The differences between the European societies were due to the contrasting reasons for settlement in the Americas. This prompted the two colonies to establish differing societies. New England and the Chesapeake colonies contrasted in political, social, and economical views. However, both still contained few similarities within their settlements.
New England was established as a refugee for Protestant dissenters from England. Various English men and women deemed the English Church corrupt, wishing to purify and reform it in a way that would appease God. These individuals were known as Puritans. Along side the Puritans were the Pilgrims, or Separatist, who simply believed there was no way to repair the English Church and wanted to establish their own independent congregation. The two groups immigrated to North America in hopes of religious freedom from England. This led to the creation of New England, whose sole purpose was based around religion instead of economic gain for the mother country. The Chesapeake colonies differed from New England as it was founded in hopes of economical gain for England. In 1607, under the reign of King James I, the Virginia Company sent out ships of hundreds of English men to Chesapeake Bay. The colonists established Jamestown, the first successful permanent English settlement in the North America, in hopes of finding gold and a passage to the Indies. However, their survival was largely based on the fact that the Powahtan Indians, who they later declared war against, attempted an alliance, ensuring the Europeans would be taken care of. This provided a foundation for the English colonists to build their society around. Due to the different reasons for colonizing the Americas, the Chesapeake colonies and New England varied economically. The Chesapeake colonies traveled to North America to find riches that would profit their mother country. However, this task failed, resulting in the English settlers to search for a merchantable commodity in its place. Introduced by Francis Drake in the 1580s, tobacco became the foundation of the Chesapeake colonies after John Rofle developed a hybrid of the newly found plant. However, the cultivation of tobacco required an abundant amount of labor. The colonists found labor within the Slave Trade and indentured servants, which dominated the Chesapeake area. Unlike the Chesapeake colonies, New England was not founded on economical gain, but rather religious freedom. At first their economy was based around sale of supplies and land to new immigrants. This later changed, as the Great Migration period ended. The English colonists then relied on industrial activities such as fishery, shipbuilding, lumber, and the shipping of salted cod to the West Indies in exchange for other commodities. Boston became the third largest English commercial center. Due to the various tasks and jobs within New England, the economy continued to thrive among others. Politically, the Chesapeake colonies and New England differed greatly. In the Chesapeake colonies, the ownership of large plantations led one to receive a higher rank in society. The House of Burgesses, the first institution of representative government in the colonies, was made up of representatives chosen by these landowners. Although the crown chose civil authorities, the English colonists influence in the government won over. This …show more content…
New England was made up of well-ordered communities and families unlike the Chesapeake. Towns and villages were constructed so that newly immigrated colonists were able to live within eyesight to help maintain order. Education was also deemed as extremely important to the English settlers. Countless of public schools were issued according to the number of families present in each town. Literacy within New England was higher than most areas, including sections of Europe. Women were also expected to be complaint to men in society. They controlled domestic chores while men were tending towards more labor-intensive
New England was established as a refugee for Protestant dissenters from England. Various English men and women deemed the English Church corrupt, wishing to purify and reform it in a way that would appease God. These individuals were known as Puritans. Along side the Puritans were the Pilgrims, or Separatist, who simply believed there was no way to repair the English Church and wanted to establish their own independent congregation. The two groups immigrated to North America in hopes of religious freedom from England. This led to the creation of New England, whose sole purpose was based around religion instead of economic gain for the mother country. The Chesapeake colonies differed from New England as it was founded in hopes of economical gain for England. In 1607, under the reign of King James I, the Virginia Company sent out ships of hundreds of English men to Chesapeake Bay. The colonists established Jamestown, the first successful permanent English settlement in the North America, in hopes of finding gold and a passage to the Indies. However, their survival was largely based on the fact that the Powahtan Indians, who they later declared war against, attempted an alliance, ensuring the Europeans would be taken care of. This provided a foundation for the English colonists to build their society around. Due to the different reasons for colonizing the Americas, the Chesapeake colonies and New England varied economically. The Chesapeake colonies traveled to North America to find riches that would profit their mother country. However, this task failed, resulting in the English settlers to search for a merchantable commodity in its place. Introduced by Francis Drake in the 1580s, tobacco became the foundation of the Chesapeake colonies after John Rofle developed a hybrid of the newly found plant. However, the cultivation of tobacco required an abundant amount of labor. The colonists found labor within the Slave Trade and indentured servants, which dominated the Chesapeake area. Unlike the Chesapeake colonies, New England was not founded on economical gain, but rather religious freedom. At first their economy was based around sale of supplies and land to new immigrants. This later changed, as the Great Migration period ended. The English colonists then relied on industrial activities such as fishery, shipbuilding, lumber, and the shipping of salted cod to the West Indies in exchange for other commodities. Boston became the third largest English commercial center. Due to the various tasks and jobs within New England, the economy continued to thrive among others. Politically, the Chesapeake colonies and New England differed greatly. In the Chesapeake colonies, the ownership of large plantations led one to receive a higher rank in society. The House of Burgesses, the first institution of representative government in the colonies, was made up of representatives chosen by these landowners. Although the crown chose civil authorities, the English colonists influence in the government won over. This …show more content…
New England was made up of well-ordered communities and families unlike the Chesapeake. Towns and villages were constructed so that newly immigrated colonists were able to live within eyesight to help maintain order. Education was also deemed as extremely important to the English settlers. Countless of public schools were issued according to the number of families present in each town. Literacy within New England was higher than most areas, including sections of Europe. Women were also expected to be complaint to men in society. They controlled domestic chores while men were tending towards more labor-intensive