The New England and the Chesapeake Colonies were two very distinct colonies. The colonist came to the Americas in order to escape religious toleration and economic prosperity. As time passed the colonist were changed by their different surroundings. Although the New England and Chesapeake colonies both had English immigrants, they differentiated due to economic, social, and religious causes. In contrast the colonies were very different societies.
There is many differences between the New England and the Chesapeake colonies, for example their different economic sources. The New England people left Europe in hopes to find economic prosperity and a better chance at life. For instance many young families set out to the Americas during the early 1600’s according to document B. In the New England Colonies the main source of profit was through Fishing, ship building, and lumbering. The colonist knew that this economy basis would bring in the most profit because of the infertile soil in the area. In addition the climate was very different in contrast to the Chesapeake colonies were they would make cash crops due to the high humidity. The Chesapeake colonist made profit through cash crops and a plantation economy. We see that many men went to Virginia in hope to get money quick, and they did not plan to stay long due to the lack of women incorporated in document C. The economies of the Chesapeake region where centralized around cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. This was the easiest and most efficient way to make money due to the cheap labor from indentured servants. Indentured servants would later show problems in Bacon’s Rebellion thus making wealthy land owners turn their heads to slaves from Africa through the triangular trade for free labor. The Chesapeake and the New England colonies had ways to make money, but where very different in how they made it due to geographic and social differences.
Both the Chesapeake and the New England Colonies would for to very distinct societies, and social values had a very important part in doing so. In the Chesapeake colonies we notice that the society is made of mostly men according to document C. In support the colonist first settled in the Chesapeake colonies to make money through joint-stock companies. The lack of social infrastructure would lead to problems because the lack of women made it tedious for a colony to thrive and reproduce.
So they imposed the head right system attracted many families to the Chesapeake region in hope of having a more prospers life. The society in the New England Colonies wanted exemplify the “city on the hill “a rich and bountiful utopia stated by John Winthrop in document A. People in the New England colonies want to have a peaceful and united colony close to god. Overall both colonies had two very different societies, Chesapeake with society based on making money, and New England with society based on forming a utopia.
Religious differences between the two colonies where highly obvious. Starting with the Chesapeake Region, Virginia was home to many Christian Protestants and Maryland home to many Catholics. The Chesapeake colonies did centralize there society around religious tolerance in contrast to the New England colonies which were very strict. The New England colonies where greatly influence by religion due advocates like john Winthrop with his vision of the “city on a hill”. The New England first came in the great puritan migration escaping religious persecution. The New England colonies formed a very strict religious society focused on god.
Overall both the Chesapeake and the New England colonies differentiated, causing major differences in the two colonies society. Both colonies came from English origin but changed to totally different people overtime. In conclusion both colonies where very different due to economic, social, and religious equities.
