The Massachusetts Bay Colony And Virginia

When the English settled into the New World, they were split up into two sections, the Chesapeake region and the New England region. Although the English settled both, the two regions were severely different from each other when they were brought about. The New England and Chesapeake colonies differed in three ways: their reason for venturing over, economy, and population. These major differences were what shaped our nation today and what will continue shaping our nation in the future.

Through the development of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay a few similarities can be noted, however, the development of these two colonies were vastly different. First off we can notice the similarities; both Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were founded by investors that funded colonists from England over to the New World. Both of these colonies were formed with a hope for profit and both of these colonies followed a government that consisted of counties with sheriffs and governors. As far as economically successful colonies go, Massachusetts Bay proved to be the more successful of the two. Virginia had a more appropriate climate for the production and growth of a wider variety of crops but tobacco was their highest produced crop.

The London Company, which received jurisdiction over the southern portion, made Jamestown, Virginia become their economic front. At first, the noblemen that came to the new place could not bear the harsh conditions and died as Britain kept sending more men to sustain the colony. After the arrival of John Smith, the colonists learned discipline and started to plant tobacco as they became the richest colony from that. However, the monoculture of tobacco was risky if the condition was not suitable for tobacco growth. Because of the large amount of field work, indentured servants were transported to Jamestown to work. Indentured servants had seven-year contracts, and many of them wanted to attack neighboring tribes

By 1700, the economics of both colonies were quite different. Virginia was dependent upon a singular cash crop known as tobacco, while the Massachusetts colonies had a diverse economic system going on that was dependent upon trade, ship

One being their religions, in Jamestown they were Anglican, whereas in Mass. they were Puritan (Stokely). There is also the difference of geographic location. Massachusetts is located in the north where there are harsher weather conditions. Their location provided an excellent harbor and since the terrain did not allow much farming they started lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing, and trade. Virginia, in the south, where there is a much warmer climate, they had a great defensive position and were able to create prosperous plantations (Levy). The settlement in Massachusetts was made up of communities of family units because the colonists of Mass. came with their families (Sonia). Furthermore, the colonists of Jamestown were made up of individuals who understood the value of the crop tobacco, and were only there for the money. Virginia had an economy based on plantations and labor; Massachusetts was comprised of small farmers and merchants (“Instructions for the Virginia

During the 1700's, people in the American colonies lived in very distinctive societies. While some colonists led hard lives, others were healthy and prosperous. The two groups who showed these differences were the colonists of the New England and Chesapeake Bay areas. The differentiating characteristics among the Chesapeake and New England colonies developed due to economy, religion, and motives for colonial expansion. The colonists of the New England area possessed a very happy and healthy life. This high way of living was due in part to better farming, a healthier environment, and a high rate of production because of more

The Chesapeake and New England colonies, although clearly quite different, do boast some similarities. The two colonies were founded in the early 17th century and started off with a demographic that primarily consisted of young white European men. The differences between the colonies are easier to pinpoint. The New England colony, which is located in the North, has long winters and short growing seasons. This is contrary to the Chesapeake colony which is more to the South than the New England colony. The Chesapeake colony was known for its fertile land, long growing season, and large swaths of land that were perfect or farming. These geographical differences directly impacted the economies as these two distinct colonies developed. The New England colonies focused on fishing, shipbuilding, and growing a distinct class of

Virginia had many failures and close calls, while Massachusetts had successful first settlements, smart decisions regarding food and planning made this possible. In 1607 colonist landed on the banks of Jamestown Virginia only to be greeted by disease causing mosquitoes. Did not had good leadership until John Smith and John Rolfe, while Massachusetts had John Winthrop who developed the settlement with success. The settlers of Virginia had The Jamestown Nightmare. Many people died looking for gold and not learning how to use the land for survival. The Gentlemen would not work themselves resulting in Settlers dyeing by the dozens. Because the laws of primogeniture, many young gentlemen in the English colonies had to make their own fortune. John Rolfe implemented, “If You Don’t Work…You Don’t Eat.” Massachusetts was started by John Winthrop. The differences in the settlements upbringings were not the only difference, their views on religion helped shape the economy of both settlements. Virginia and Massachusetts both realized that they needed to have a strong economy, but their views on religion versus profit differed and resulted in different systems. Massachusetts was a safe haven for Catholics; Massachusetts learned the best way to survive in the area was by watching and interacting with the natives. John Winthrop stated, “We shall be a city upon a hill.” This was going to be a holy city.

Massachusetts Bay was settled by Pilgrims with religious goals in mind.  This was my colony of choice due to the fact that some of the moral views would be more evident in this colony, which would render a much safer place than the other colonies. Surely, it would not be an ideal place as they would later become absorbed by their own religious views and retaliate against those individuals  who did not follow the religion according to their

In the Chesapeake Bay colonies the English colonist found that tobacco grew very well in the warm environment, but it was a very labor-intensive crop and they did not have the resources to keep the growing need for the crop at bay. “While slaves existed in the English colonies throughout the 1600s, indentured servitude was the method of choice employed by many planters before the 1680s.”(1) The colonies used the indentured servant system and it was their hope that it would help increase their population in the Chesapeake Bay colonies.

Everyone has an external force that motivates them in some way that allows them to be able to go about their everyday lives and fulfill their ambitions. Within the years of 1580 and 1763 this force took the form of God. Around this same time was when the Chesapeake and New England colonies were in the process of being founded. As a result, these two settlements did nothing without referencing their actions to God. Due to this heavy focus on God as the reason behind every aspect of their lives, chaos began to sprout soon after the settlers began settling and started living their new lives in the colonies.

The American Colonies for the past 20 years have become accustomed to living a thousand miles from their sovereign, the King of England and Parliament. This separation from “monarchial” control and power has created a tough and independent society, which although they believe themselves to be subjects of the crown, has molded an experience and lifestyle unlike any found within the “Crown’s” realm. Subsequently, these differences in lifestyles bond both Mother Country and colony on a path that veers from the typical empirical rule that has ruled the known world for the last century.

Jamestown presented more prospects to colonists than Massachusetts Bay Colony by allowing more than one religion, workers rights, and freedom of speech. Jamestown settlers had a bond from England guarantees the rights of settlers, as they would have had it in England. The Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony and they established a charter also. Both colonies had their have and have not in them. Massachusetts Bay Colony encourage the church greatly and Jamestown boost working over religion. The starting of a democracy, equality was from Jamestown.

The New England and the Chesapeake colonies differed in numerous ways. These differences included geography, religion, economics, nationalities, and politics, which

Jamestown or Virginia has been used as an economic front for the London company. Britain posted the nobles who believed they would find on the spot gold and be rich. However, this was not the condition because noblemen were not ready to face harsh conditions. Many of them died, and all the British did was just sent more and more of the noblemen to help maintain the colony, but it did not succeed. John Smith came from England and the colony has accumulated through the discipline that the noblemen did not have when they came to establish Jamestown. Jamestown eventually became a place of prosperity through the cultivation of tobacco, making it a very rich colony. People who grew tobacco does not