Many new settlements were rapidly being colonized by Europeans in the 16th century. The two major European colonies were the New England and Chesapeake regions. The New England and Chesapeake regions were both settled by people of the English origin, but by the 1700’s the two colonies drifted to become to distinct societies. What was the differences these two regions had in creating such different societies?
Even though the colonies were both settled by English settlers they came to North America for different reasons, which is where the different societies began to really emerge. When the Church of England separated from Catholicism. Protestantism flourished and lead to some Protestants wanting to be completely separated from Catholicism. These “Separatists” along with Catholics who did not join the Church of England came to New England. John Winthrope, A Model of Christian Charity, John Smith, History of Virginia, 1624 said, “ The city on a hill, the eyes of all the people are on them, god watches over and the people should not speak of evil about god.” Also, one of the colonies of the New England region the articles of agreement, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1636, said, the intend of godly grace will be set and a faithful minister with a church will be given to walk through Christ ( Doc D).
This shows how important religion was and they will do all they can through Christ.
Therefore, the New England colonies were religious based in hopes for freedom and where they can practice what they believe and not for economic reasons. As for the Chesapeake region they came purely for valuables and riches.The gold seekers were the worst among us” (Document f) “There was no talk…but dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold…” The whole purpose of coming to North America was for things of value. The regions had always had different purposes for coming to North America, as one can see it even starts from the beginning of settlement.
The Essay on The Chesapeake and New England regions
... to the development of The Chesapeake and New England regions. The final result from these settlers was two distinct societies. Although they came to ... Captain John Smith said there was no talkbut dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold (Doc F). Life expectancy was low because people ... sometimes a small plot of land to come to the colony to work. Once they were freemen most of them never ...
The two regions are close to each other, but also have different resources. In the Chesapeake colony they have plantations for tobacco crops and production whereas the New England colony doesn’t have large plantations, but instead work with shipbuilding and carpentry. In the Chesapeake colony they needed to have indentured slaves and Negros to work as slave labor for
their plantations and production of tobacco. The New England colonies didn’t need all the slave labors and their colony was still mostly white and English minority. As document H and G have to do with rebellions and the Dutch, the way the colony began is the reasoning behind this. The Chesapeake colony were more into values as tobacco and slave labors they did not have a very religious and strict code like the New England colonies.
In conclusion, even though two regions were settled by English origins does not mean the societies are at all the same. From the very beginning of the settling process for the colonies they bring their own reasoning’s for creating what they created, which is a major factor in how the two regions became different.
