Religion and History of the Law in US Short Summary

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The northern regions tended to have more religious beliefs. The southern regions tended believe in a church and state separation. According to “The Articles of Agreement, Springfield, Massachusetts in 1636″ (Doc D), whoever entered Massachusetts had to comply with the certain articles and orders that shaped a community around God and the share of the land. The “Articles of Agreement, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1636’’ is valid document because it was basic laws.

As a result of “The Articles of Agreement Springfield, Massachusetts, 1636’’, the northern region became more religiously involved with society, causing the one region to split into two. Because Virginia was becoming more of an economical region such as its tobacco farming, it strayed away from the religious upbringings of New England . According to John Winthrop, author of “A Model of Christian Charity 1630” (Doc A) stated that the community must be tightly knit together, and must lead a good example. For whoever watches them must see that God is the sole leader. John Winthrop’s Article is valid because it his original observation.

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Thereby showing that the followers of New England had to watch over each other and follow in the eyes of God. Hence the families would go to church two times on a typical Sunday. Allowing for the people to follow the Covent of Grace, this was between puritan communities and God. Which allowed for the community to strengthen their new settlements. According to “Wage and Price Regulations in Connecticut 1676” (Doc E) tradesmen and laborers they shall not be greedy and must use their profits to help them serve God and their neighbors. This document is valid because it is the regulations of Connecticut’s wage and prices.

In order to be successful in the community, they must use their resources to help and serve their neighbors and God. Consequently Connecticut had to have prices that everyone could afford. Virginia did not want to use their most of their money to help serve god. They were religous but not as equal. Virginia wanted to keep religion but they did not want to have a stict community. Virginia wanted to make a profit for the crown. The religious aspects of the community played a major role in the separation of the two regions; however social aspects also contributed a significant amount.

The New England and the Chesapeake regions divided into two separate societies because of social differences. In the south, the settlers aimed to please the king, and turn a profit, whereas in the North, religion was practiced and the individuals in the community were closer to one another. According to “History of Virginia, 1624” written by Captain John Smith, the crew on his ship went to the new world in search of gold, and the individuals with anything of value they traded it for their own gain, and more than half of them died to the cold and starvation (Doc F).

Also, Smith claimed that the worst of them were the ones looking for gold. All that those individuals did was search for gold, clean the gold, and get it ready to go back to the king. Along with the search for gold, the new settlers were violent and disturbed the Indians, leading to the death of Captain Kendall. “History of Virginia” is a valid document because it is Captain John Smith’s first hand recollection of what happened when some of the first people came to Chesapeake.

Because Smith’s crew were violent people looking for a profit (or looking for a place to eventually make a profit), there was a culture clash with the Indians. Lasting form 1610 to 1614, the First Anglo-Powhatan War was fought between the Indians and the setters, and the De La Warr had permission to make war on the Indians because the Indians were living on the land that the new comers wanted. When the Indians refused to leave, the settlers burned villages and houses, took supplies, burned cornfields, along with many other acts of cruelty.

After the war, from 1614 to 1622 peace was made between the English and the Powhatans. As a result of the violence, wealthy farmers stared looking for other ways to make a profit, and tobacco was one of the crops that were grown. The start of tobacco farming resulted in a new trade for Virginia, virtually saving the colony. According to the “Ship’s list of Emigrants Bound for New England,” it shows that a majority of the people headed towards New England were families, consisting mostly of two parents and children.

For example, Joseph Hull, a minister 40 years of age, brought his wife, five daughters, two sons, and three servants on March 20th, 1635 (Doc B). Most of the other Emigrants on the ship were similar. The “Ship’s list of Emigrants Bound for New England” is a valid source because it is a factual document used to keep order of the people hoping to settle in New England. Due to the information given about the travelers, it is concluded that the New Englanders are more family oriented, and are less likely to be violent.

Form 1610 to 1660, 25,000 new setters came to New England, and most of them consisted of families, proving that the settlers are more focused on family and religion, instead of being successful and prosperous. Because of the family oriented community, the New England Colony was successful because of the strong trade established with the Plymouth Indians, indicating that they didn’t want war. Since the New England families educated their children and indentured servants in religion, health, and community well being, the children were raised in a nonviolent environment.

Because of the positive environment the children preserved the peace. According to the “Ship’s List of Emigrants Bound for Virginia,” in July 1935, the settlers that came to the Chesapeake region (Virginia) were within the age range of 14 to 51 years old (Doc C). Differing from the families that immigrated to New England, the emigrants were not family oriented and often traveled alone to help further themselves in their individual lives and careers. Also, there were very few women compared to men that traveled to the Chesapeake region, and most of them were in their early twenties.

Farming was more important to the southerners than family, and one of the reasons that the individuals came to the southern region was because it was advertised that there was an abundance of fish, game, fruits, unsearched mountainous land, and farmland. This drove the Englishmen who were losing farmland, unemployed, or homeless to travel to Chesapeake and make a living. The Settlers on the ship in 1635 were not the first ones to travel to Chesapeake, there were many ships similar to it starting as early as1610.

The “Ship’s List of Emigrants Bound for Virginia” is a valid source because it is an actual document with the names of the travelers that immigrated to Chesapeake. From 1610 to 1660, 50,000 people traveled from England to Chesapeake. As a result of greed and the prospect of fortune, the settlers were blinded by their ambition to lead a better life, that they were hasty and violent towards the Indians. All through 1622 through 1644, there were periodic attacks between the Powhatans and the English. The raids that the settlers preformed on the Indians reduced their population, and pushed them further westward.

Because of the culture clash, there was a Second Anglo-Powhatan War. The English won and removed the Powhatans from their land. Although there was fighting, there was also peace agreements that were made between the settlers, however they were also broken by both sides. The last peace treaty was made in 1646 and finally separated the Indian and English settlers, and the Chesapeake region settlers brought African slaves to help themselves further their career and fortune. Clearly, the social differences between the Chesapeake and the New England regions contributed to the separation into two separate colonies, along with economic differences.

The southern region such as Chesapeake was more involved with economics than religion. In the North, New England was centered more around pratcing religion and less on the economics. According to “Wage and Price Regulations in Connecticut 1676” (DocE), it explains that the settlers must not raise prices to gain money or lower raises to save money. With the money that is made, it should be used to help serve God and Neighbors. This document is valid because it was a regulation for the citizens of Connecticut. Resulting in Connecticut showing more focus on religion than economics.

Since most of New England settlers were farmers or skilled workers they did not make much money. Although some did make more money with fishing and fur trading. New England did not have to spend money on land as well. According to “Articles of Agreement Massachusetts 1636”( Doc E) everyone was shall have a share of planting ground or the meadow. As well as receiving a good- size house lot as they see fit for everyone’s quality. This is a valid document because it was an Article shared by all. Meaning that with no money going into the economy by real estate money was not a big issue in the north.

The south on the other hand concentrated mainly on the economics. The south was into tobacco farming. It was known as the “child of tobacco”. Resulting in a new money maker helped firmly establish Virginia’s economy. Virginia was after money. According to Captain John Smith “History of Virginia 1624” ( Doc F)the worst people that boarded the ship were gold seekers. All they wanted was to find gold and to make a profit. The gold seekers would hire slaves for cheap labor in hopes of making more money. This document is valid because it is a exact observation made by Captain John Smith.

Since Virginia was apart of Chesapeake this shows that this region was focused more about the possible gold. While religion was also an important role in their lives the possibility to find gold had a greater appeal. Because the smell of wealth was in the air many social classes started to clash. Which allowed for a clash between the urban and rural communities of Virginia. These two economic diffrences led to a split of the New England and Chesapeake regions. New England wanted to revolve more around religion and less araound economics, where the Chesapeake wanted to pursue economics more than religion.

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