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During the 16 th and 17 th century many emigrants settled upon the coasts of The New World - North America. People, mainly form England, who were either pursued by nation's economical recession or religious discrimination, decided to start a new life in America. Throughout the course of history and many expeditions, the colonies set their own rules based on different ideas. Two separate regions emerged: New England and Chesapeake; although occupied mostly by people originating from the same location those 2 regions were very diverse.
Among many new settlers was John Winthrop. He had a dream of building a model new society in the New England region that he referred to as a "City upon a Hill." In document A, we can find supportive information of his plans. Although there were many poor and many rich that wanted to take a challenge of colonizing raw and harsh land, Winthrop asked everyone to help eachother and be generous. Without this idea the process of assimilating to the new conditions would be much harder.
Entire families emigrated to the new land. Among those people (Doc. B) were some skilled workers and with eachother's support they were able to establish a permanent settlement. The new society was united under God and early government.
According to documents D and E, life was definetely harsh at the start but organized work and coordination by some kind of government, led the colonies into social and economical growth. Rules and arrangements were key to success. As stated in the Articles of Agreement, people cooperated with one another and designed a scheme, a blueprint for their settlement. They established towns, communities based on their beliefs and common good. Much like the head right system in the south, they distributed land amongst them to start their new lives. General Courts harmonized the economy which was based on farming, fishing etc.
The govermnent set prices of goods and worker wages. It also screened ones that were after sudden enrichment, who might take advantage of other fellow citizens. The New England inhabitants were strongly motivated by religion as many of them were Puritans (including Separatists) who escaped religious persecution in England (Great Migration). Peoples' behavior was mainly influenced and controlled by teachings of God. Doc. D stresses that idea; people should unite and "walk in all the ways of Christ" Situation was quite different in the Chesapeake colonies, Maryland and Virginia.
History shows that those areas were just doomed from the beginning of their establishment. The colonization was predominantly organized by huge joint-stock companies like Virginia Co. From the beginning the social structure and main work power was based on slavery. And economy was geared toward cash crops. Poor people were lured by head right system, created by those organizations, when given 50 acres of their own land. They gave up their freedom and became indentured servants or slaves in order to get to America.
Document C lists the names of people bound for Virgina. Mostly men, probably indentured servants who are crossing the Atlantic to work on a tobacco plantations for their masters. Not many organized towns were established, with exception to Jamestown. Many problems haunted the Chesapeake colonies. Capitan John Smith described the poor and harsh life of the people in doc. F.
There was a sharp class difference between wealthy planters and their underlings and colonial resistance to royal control. We can find many reasons responsible for such situation. First, the government didn't have a centralized power and ability to treat everyone fairly. Many farmers, fatigued by the circumstances, revolted against their authorities. There was a great struggle between the law force and the citizens. Nathaniel Bacon, disgusted by the way the government is run, concentrated the grievances of poor farmers to spark the Bacon's Rebellion.
It was aimed against gov. of Virginia William Berkeley, who was favoring large plantation owners to get more power. "Let the truth be bold" Bacon said about the "unworthy favorites and juggling parasites" who take a great advantage of common people. The rebellion didn't accomplish the main goal because Bacon, the leader died of disease, but who knows what would be the outcome under different circumstances. Chesapeake not only had to deal with domestic problems but also with attacks of foreigners. Native Americans and Dutch posed a great danger. Although the government asked for help with dealing with invaders, such requests were not finalized.
Document G describes Gov. Berkeley's beseech for help to fight the enemies. He's also afraid that common people, supplied with arms, would commit mutiny and join the enemies. WIth support of the Documents, it is clear that New England and Chesapeake were very diversified.
Possible cause of this fact is the role that each region played in economy of the "mother country", the rules the colonies were established upon and a way the govermnent dealt with various problems.
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Research essay sample on New England And Chesapeake Colonies
