DB Essay Chesapeake Colonies vs.. New England Colonies The English had no desire to colonize the new world prior to defeating the Spanish Armada. However, once they defeated the Spanish in 1588, thus ending Spanish colonization, the English became the rulers of the Atlantic and a newly found patriotism flourished in England. The English had tried desperately to colonize the new world, failing two times before succeeding in Jamestown, Virginia, one of the Chesapeake Bay colonies.
The northern most colonies such as Massachusetts were known as the New England colonies. Although both regions were settled by English people by the sass the regions developed into two distinct societies. The New England colonies were settled by families that sought to flee persecution and desired religious tolerance and unity. In stark contrast, the Chesapeake Colonies were primarily founded to gain riches and thus, a society based on greed that was highly dysfunctional.
John Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts believed it was his calling to lead the people of Massachusetts and build the city as a prime example for all humankind. In his writing he states “… We must be knit together in this work as one man. ” (Document A). This signifies unity of the people of Massachusetts. They had intentions to establish a religious, peaceful and helpful society. The Ship’s List of Emigrants bound for New England is compiled of mainly families (document B).
The New England colonists were also in pursuit of equality as exemplified by the Articles of Agreement of Springfield, Massachusetts. In the Agreement they clearly outline their intent to allow both rich and poor families to compose the town and that every inhabitant will receive a house lot and a share of the planting ground. Also, in Connecticut the colonists regulated the standard for pay and urged laborers and radiomen to consider their neighbors, seeing as though they do not enrich themselves while impoverishing their neighbors.
Clearly, the New England colonists were very family oriented and religiously unified, looking out for each other and longing for opportunity in their society. The Chesapeake colonies (Virginia and Maryland) were initially established for profit. The Ship’s list of emigrants bound for Virginia in 1635 was comprised of mostly males, indicating that there was no desire to establish permanent homes, due to the fact that there is no way to increase their population significantly (document C).
The Virginia Company was issued a charter by King James I for colonists to settle in the New World and gain money for England. In fact, if the colony did not gain riches for England, the Virginia Company would be liquidated to make money and the colonists would be stranded in unfamiliar territory with scarce supplies. This consequently put pressure on the colonists to concentrate on finding riches from the New World. The colonists were so preoccupied with finding gold and other treasures that they were not able to prioritize their basic deeds, like food and other supplies.
As a result, many colonists were malnourished and many died of starvation. It also contributed to the greed, lazy, and selfish attitudes of the Virginia colonists. Captain John Smith, who took control of the Virginia colony and reformed the colonists’ work ethic, wrote in the History of Virginia that “ there was no talk… But dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold . ” (Document F). This shows the colonists obsession in finding riches in this highly economically centered society. They asked, not what they would eat tomorrow but how they could et more gold.
The fact that their society was solely focused on money further illustrates the greed of the Chesapeake colony. The Chesapeake colonies did not offer the equality and tolerance of the New England colonies. Governor Berkeley described in his inability to defend Virginia against a Dutch attack various social and class distinctions (Document G). The different social classes mentioned by Berkeley were the freemen, servants, and Negroes. In New England, they often refer to people collectively as “ everyone” establishing equality, unity, and a friendly environment.
Maryland was originally founded a safe haven for Catholics, extending religious toleration to all Christians. However, those who were of a different faith or no faith at all were persecuted and killed; thus, rendering Maryland as one of the least tolerant colonies. Maryland, like Virginia was a plantation colony that was economically based and had indentured servants to provide for labor. Obviously the Chesapeake colonies were fundamentally based on the riches gained from the settlement of the territory and they ultimately had no desire to establish equality or religious tolerance. The
Chesapeake and New England regions each evolved into very distinct societies shaped by the different views of the English settlers that established those colonies. The New England colonies were religious and family centered, in that they looked after one another due to the fact that those who settled those colonies were escaping persecution or searching for opportunity. The Chesapeake colonies were economically based and highly aristocratic. This was due to the fact that they were rushed by the Virginia Company to find treasure for profit. Over time, these colonies became vastly different and had opposing views.
