Comparing Life In The Early Settlements Of New England And The Chesapeake

The newly settled North American provinces continued to distinguish themselves as Europeans throughout the seventeenth-century. As frontiers developed, however, different personalities were accepted. In the early 1700s, New England’s religious and family-oriented way of life set itself apart. The Chesapeake region, with its expansive land and extended developing season, attracted a gathering of diverse pilgrims, each of whom had a different political view of government. The reasons for these unique social orders to go to the New World varied.

New England’s public, financial, and geo-political views are very different from the Chesapeake. The gold rush and fast riches were the main reasons for the settlement of the Chesapeake. New England Puritans escaped ‘The Protestant Change’ for religious reasons. The Joint Stock Company came to Virginia in search of gold, hoping to equal the wealth of Spain. John Rolfe’s improvement of Tobacco as a cash crop in 1612 ensured that the rich profiteers of the Chesapeake would continue to settle it and make it a mercantilism-based society. Meanwhile, New England spoke of a perfect family and religious society, “a city on a mountain”. Puritans remained outside of English society but sought to isolate themselves from England. This was different than what the pilgrims did in Chesapeake. New England Puritans fleeing England for a more strategic distance to religious feelings were able to maintain a high level of confidence. In the eyes of their community, they believed that they had a commitment to follow god’s command and to live ethically correct lives as a Christian group. John Winthrop states that these obligations are to be upheld in all meekness. Chesapeake’s pioneers established a variety of goals to drive their monetary structure. Natives did not have religious aspirations, rather they wanted to ‘…but wash gold refine gold load gold …’. This attitude led to settlements that were based on truth and rivalry, which prevented unification in the Chesapeake. New England was dominated by families because the religious aspect of society spoke to those who wanted to live together in a network based on God. Chesapeake had been colonized mostly by single men in the interim because of the lack of financial benefits and a consolidated family. In this area, farming was profitable, especially in areas near waterways. Large-scale manufacturing, such as rice or tobacco, was also possible. New England on the contrary, had an atmosphere less conducive for large-scale manufacturing. New England’s mainland climate made it difficult for illnesses to spread, which in turn increased the life expectancy of the natives of this region. The Chesapeake’s atmosphere made it easier for illnesses to spread. Due to the greater number of widows, there were less options for families to be established and thus a lower rate in future. In the north, where there were more families available, these ladies’ rights did not exist. It was important, because of the large estates in New England and their interest in money crops and wealth, to employ captives and hired hirelings for the benefit of and to present large scale production. In New England, slaves and hired hirelings became redundant.

Thirdly, in New England where the population was more affluent and affluent, the gap between rich and poor was much larger. In the Articles of Agreement, the New England area stated that they expected their town to be composed of 40 families ,… both rich and poor. Due to the high level of security that the New England population group enjoys, they believed it important for their entire network to prosper and be effective, unlike the Chesapeake area. In addition, there was a strong sense of trust and faith in god due to their efforts to keep the repayment rich in money and religion. In order to achieve the title of ‘city-on-a-hill’, they also had to maintain a standard that did not harm their neighbors. The Chesapeake region, unlike the North, used a more highborn method to separate land. This left the land to a select few. South was not as religious and they were therefore less inclined to aid their neighbors. Bacon’s Rebellion illustrates the discord in Chesapeake culture, where poor ranchers were forced to look at huge landholders and ‘juggling parasites’ who had their fortunes repaired by the government. The South was awash with irregularities and wealth as slave trade began to grow.

These social classes differ but they also have similarities. They both fled Europe in order to live a better, more prosperous life. The public also places a high value on harvests and cultivation, regardless of the fact that they are involved in a variety of different industries. This is to sustain settlements. Thirdly, New England and Chesapeake can be seen as male-dominated social orders based on the migration patterns of European pioneers.

It can be concluded that the occupants early settlements were of English heritage. What was the reason for this differentiation? This happened in light of the fact that they don’t share religious convictions, financial adjusts, atmosphere/developing seasons, industry, or slave exchange. The two social orders developed a unique way of living.

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  • sofiamiller

    I am Sofia Miller, a 21-year-old blogger and student. I love writing, and I'm passionate about education and learning. I blog about a variety of educational topics, from student life to university admissions. I also write about parenting and lifestyle topics.

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