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March 29, 2008
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#1 DBQ
Curiosity and bravery led the English to discover the nations of America.
These strong willed Europeans, determined to find to a new world, set out with
high hopes and ambitions. Settling a variety of colonies along the coast of North
America, the English were among the first true pioneers. After several
expeditions and ships loads of emigrants, the English had a divergence of
reasons for departing Europe for America. The settlers of the Chesapeake and
New England colonies, were foreigners to the land, established two exceptional
but contrary societies due to the diversity of English citizens. Chesapeake and
New England colonies, although from the same English background, developed
distinctions from the very start of the sixteenth century; their reasons for fleeing
Europe, political standards, family life, religions and use of land.
With King James I offering a charter for the Virginia Company of London,
a joint stock company, to prompt a settlement in the New World, profit filled
English men couldn’t refuse this gracious proposal. A promise of golden lands
and a new passage route through America to the West Indies, the hearty men
embarked on a journey which to their eyes seemed to be through the vast
unknown. Arriving on the shores of Chesapeake Bay in 1606, soon they were
attacked by Indians. Finally having to settle on the James River (named in honor
of their King) the Virginia Company was forced to make their home within a
mosquito infested and unhealthily region. Beginning their arduous search from
the onset, the stubborn men searched for gold day and night through starvation,
malnutrition, and disease. According to Captain John Smith these gold seekers
were all men in hope of repayment for commencing on the journey. He described
the scene as diligent men digging, washing, refining, and loading gold all in
silence. Living from “hand to mouth” induced the gold miners to only be able to
provided selves with supplies for the following year. The profit filled English men
of the Virginia Company voyaged to America with their hearts in hope for gold
and their minds set on discovering this precious metal and nothing else.
Meanwhile back in England, around the 1530’s King Henry VIII had broken ties
with the Roman Catholic Church and was anointing himself the Head of the
Church of England. Soon in 1603 King James I become the head of the Church
of England causing the Puritans to oppose him as a spiritual leader. Since they
could resist him as a spiritual leader and then would certainly defy as a political
leader as well. Therefore, King James I menaced then out of the land.
Compelled to sail to America in search of religious toleration these English soon
founded Plymouth colony. They were separatist known as pilgrims, settled the
land in strong belief that they would be free of religious prosecution. Coming to
America for entirely opposite motivations, cause these two colonies began to
contrast from the very start.
Controlling the colonies dealing with separate perspectives on life,
Governor John Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay colony (part of New
England) and Governor William Berkley of the Virginia colony (part of
Chesapeake) had a difference in views on the upraising of a community.
According to John Winthrop all people are equal; the rich, the poor, the mean,
and the powerful. With God at the center of the New England colony, the
pilgrims believed in working together as one for the glory of God, where the
colonist at Chesapeake believed that one man could be better then another. In
1630 while Governor Winthrop was aboard the Arbella he writes that the
community needs to uphold a fellowship together. Their unity should be abided
by one spirit of peace for everyone is a worthy servant of Christ. On the other
hand Governor Berkeley viewpoint was quite varied form that of Winthrop’s. In a
statement to his council on defending Virginia against a Dutch attack in 1673,
Berkeley addresses his council by telling them that it is their duty to take part in
a war to guard their country. He also refers to his own people as servants,
Negroes, and men in debt, while declaring that these people are not good
enough to defend the country. He is clearly putting people of his colony in social
order, which is exactly what the Governor of the New England colonies
preached against. These two adequate governors striving to achieve the best for
their colonies, helped the growth of two separate societies. Both governor’s
coming from highly different backgrounds and mind sets, simulates reasons for
the different view points on the formulation of each the New England and the
Chesapeake colonies.
The difference in family life, religion and land draws the final line were
these two distinct colonies divide in difference and development. Fleeing from
religious persecution, the pilgrims migrated to New England in close knit
families. In 1635 the passengers heading to America for New England ranged
from children to teenagers, to middle aged men. The ship’s list record by Deputy
Clerk John Porter clarifies that the emigrants stationed to reside in the New
England colonies were families consisting of members with a variety of ages.
Therefore, the New England colonies were united from the start with a well-of
family lifestyle. On another note, the ship’s list for passengers coming to Virginia
in 1635 included mostly men ages from 14 to a few 51 year olds. With a 6 to 1
men/women ratio, reveals that family life was not an necessity for the Virginians.
Disease-raged settlements grew slowly through the Chesapeake area, causing
many unmarried males which leads to weak family ties and low reproduction
rates, due to the scarcity of women. New England emphasized on religion and
family values, while Chesapeake concentrated on slavery, servants and
prospering there tobacco industries. Equality and integrity lead the New England
colonies to widespread survival. In Massachusetts, an Article of Agreement was
formed for the citizens to embrace. The articles incorporate a list which
embodies covenants for the community to follow in order to acquire a livelihood.
The articles state the societies should be combined of all inhabitants, rich or
poor. Each person will possess planting grounds and a lot for a house, while
committing to a walk with Christ. The citizens of New England were leveled
headed, conservative, and organized. Meanwhile, a rebellion in Chesapeake
against the governor was about to set forth. Nathaniel Bacon, a 29 year old
indentured servant launched an attack against William Berkeley due to his
toleration with the Indians and their frustration with broken expectations of
acquiring land. Bacon confirmed a declaration justifying there attack against
Berkeley in 1676, by remarking that some citizens are building larger estates
and taking the “public treasure”, while they ( he indentured servants) make by on
merely nothing. Comparing these two controversial colonies exhibits that the
citizens of each community lead exhaustively different lifestyles. While New
England civilians were fabricating laws of agreement to live by based around
there faith, the people of Chesapeake are finding ways to go against there faith
by attack their governor, indicates that the two colonies main focuses are not
nearly related. Using slaves and indentured servants for farming and cultivating
the land of Chesapeake, the Virginians thrived on high profits, large estates,
utilizing slavery, fighting Indians and attacking slaves. On the other hand, the
New England colonies were centered around a Christian background, grounded
on family ties, community unity, and flourishing from a diverse population.
The New England and the Chesapeake colonies, both settled by the
English become two entirely different societies by the beginning of the
eighteenth century. As a outcome of individualism in the two societies, a vast
difference in the development occurred. Ranging from family life to religion, to
initial incentive for escaping the old practices of England, to styles of governing,
these two communities advanced in opposite directions, but also emerged as
becoming unique successful societies of the English origin.
Word Count: 1327
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