Both New England and the Chesapeake region were colonized by people of English origin, however despite this they developed into two very distinct societies. This difference in development can be rooted back to the geographic features of the respective areas as well as the aspirations of the settlers. New England was primarily devoted to practicing Puritanism while the Chesapeake region was focused on financial gain from gold and, more significantly, tobacco. New England was mostly settled by people who were subjected to religious persecution for practicing English Reformed Protestantism, or more commonly known as Puritanism, in Catholic Europe. These such people, who boarded the Weymouth for example, included families and their servants …show more content…
This region is known to possess fertile soil and ideal weather conditions, unlike the rocky soil and harsh conditions in New England, which made growing crops, especially tobacco more accessible. Besides tobacco, there were also promises of gold. John Smith described this desire for gold to be the worst motivation for coming to the Chesapeake region since the gold seekers themselves “... made all men their slaves in hope of recompenses.” (Document F) Still, they had goals of becoming wealthy and because of this the ships, such as the Merchant’s Hope, Hugh Weston, and Master, were filled with a majority of mature, independent men. Very few, if any, women were onboard (document C) most likely because the men thought they’d be of no benefit. Considering the absence of women and families it was appropriate that the men settled independently in the wilderness or on plantations rather than in communities. Additionally, unlike New England, which promoted equality and peace, the Chesapeake region struggled with conflicts. This can be observed in the article surrounding Governor Berkeley and His Council on Their Inability to Defend Virginia Against a Dutch Attack, which states that, “We thought it our duty… to set forth in this our Declaration, the true state and condition of this country in general and our particular… disabilit[y] to… [engage in] war at the time of this invasion [by the Dutch]....” (Document G) Another example of this conflict would be Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion. In Bacon’s “Manifesto” where he justifies his rebellion against Governor Berkeley, he says, “Let truth be bold and all the world know the real foundations of pretended guilt… Let us trace… [the] men in authority and favor to whose hands the dispensation of the countr[y’s] wealth has been committed.” (Document H) All-in-all, Bacon was dissatisfied with Governor
In this document Bacon declares himself General by the consent of the people and asserts that Governor Sir William Berkeley and his supporters have used their power to commit crimes against the people of Virginia and the English Crown. The document cites eight grievances related to unjust taxes, inadequate protection from the Indians, and government corruption. Bacon calls for the immediate surrender or capture of Berkeley and 23
When he came he saw the conflicts between the farmers and the Natives, because of that he and the other settlers waged war on Natives. However this was viewed as a rebellious act against the government by council and the governor. Bacon was told to stop, but he continued his rebellion against the Natives and soon the government. Bacon’s Rebellion was the first rebellion in America which showed the power of the people against the government
In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against Virginia 's Colonial governor, William Berkeley. Fueled by colonists ' fears of Indian attacks. Bacon and his followers used disputes between frontier settlers and Doeg Indians to rationalize an offensive against other nearby tribes. Berkeley 's preference for a more measured approach became justification for a political and military rebellion against his rule.
The impacts and criticalness of Bacon's Rebellion in history is that the administration in Virginia got to be startled by the risk of Civil War (the English Civil War was still crisp in everybody's memory). Bacon's Rebellion was the first insubordination in the American Colonies. Bacon's Rebellion and the Declaration of the People set a point of reference for future Americans to get uniformity. The Declaration of the People started the guideline of the assent of the general population. The disclosure of tobacco began the manor economy in Virginia and made an interest for shoddy work filled at first by poor, white Indentured hirelings and after that by dark slaves.
In the 17th century Jamestown was the capital of Virginia. The Governor Sir William Berkley, welcomed his cousin by marriage Nathaniel Bacon who was sent to Virginia in hopes he would “mature”. (nps.gov, n.d.) Problems began to arise for the Virginia colony from economic downfalls and Mother Nature’s ugly side. Bacon began developing a rebellious group accusing Governor Berkley of siding with Indian’s against the goodwill of the colony.
By 1644 Virginia pacified the Native American in the western part, that’s the part that is away from the coast, and the established the line and told the Native Americans to stay on the side, and the English colonist will stay on the other side. However, this leads to a period of rapid growth in Virginia, between 1640 and 1660 the population of Virginia went up from 8000 to 40000, so that means Virginia finds a lot of success. On the other hand, Berkeley at once will team up with the large landowners to try to prevent new large landowners from gaining power and at the same times he will start having secret deals to trade. Aphra Behn, the prolific English playwright and novelist, retells the 1676 events of the colonial uprising in Virginia known as Bacon 's Rebellion, adding a fictional romantic story about the love between an Indian Queen, Semernia, and the colonist Nathaniel Bacon in her play The Widow Ranter, performed and published posthumously. It all starts with an unhappy Jamestown, their taxes were too high and their income of selling tobacco was too low, the Indian attacks were too frequent.
The members of the House of Burgesses, including Governor William Berkeley, rejected many of them from owning the land or any power that came with it. This was due to the fact that the people in power depended on strong relations with the Native American’s and could not risk conflict. Tension soon boiled over and led to a full scale rebellion in which Bacon led a group into Jamestown, burning the capital to ashes. Bacon, himself was killed during the conflict due to disease but had left his mark before passing.
Although all the colonists all came from England, the community development, purpose, and societal make-up caused a distinct difference between two distinct societies in New England and the Chesapeake region. The distinctions were obvious, whether it be the volume of religious drive, the need or lack of community, families versus single settlers, the decision on minimal wage, whether or not articles of agreements were drawn for and titles as well as other social matters were drawn, as well as where loyalties lay in leaders. New England was, overall, more religious than the Chesapeake region. Settlers in New England were searching relief for religious persecution in Europe. Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics were coming in droves to America searching for an opportunity to have religious freedom.
The religion of the people from New England was called Puritan, which that meant
1652: 3 English territories est. in area set aside for Indians 4. Berkeley’s Autocratic Rule: first burgesses elected 1619 (men 17+ vote), 1670 vote only for landowners (elections rare), each county had 2 reps, K. Bacon’s Rebellion (military challenge to colonial govt) 1. 1676: backcountry unrest, political rivalries 2. Bacon (Cambridge grad) arrives 1673 in
Being a quiet and a good listener, reading has always been on the top of the list of my hobbies. Additionally, I am a person who loves to know and appreciate historical art works, lifestyles, and literature works. Thus, getting a chance to read American literature was a wish being fulfilled for me. Amongst all the passages and literary pieces I have read so far in this book, I had trouble in grasping the facts stated in “A Report of the Newfound Land of Virginia” by Thomas Hariot. I am also not satisfied with the organization of the text in the book.
The New England colonies were first founded in the last 16th to 17th century as a sanctuary for differing religious groups. New England was made up of the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. New Hampshire, however, was formed for economic reasons instead of religious ones. The Chesapeake region, which is made up of the colonies of Maryland and Virginia, was founded by the British colonies for the purpose of farming. However, by the 1700’s, despite both being settled by Englishmen, New England and the Chesapeake region had developed differently.
The British colonies in the Chesapeake region and those of the New England region were both similar yet different in certain ways. One because both the colonist that settled there were looking for new opportunities. However, it was mostly second son aristocrats, which means the first born usually inherits the better half of the father’s riches. Their lives in England had either been mistreated or they were unable to flourish economically. Regardless of whether they were searching the land for expansive homesteads, religious freedom, or exchanging and merchant opportunities, the colonist in both regions were searching for another land in the New World.
Both the Chesapeake colonies and the New England colonies were vital to Britain’s atlantic trade. They both had large populations and booming economies. However, they both eventually established their own cultures that were different from each other. The colonies’ differing beliefs, environments, and labor lead to the contrasting cultures. The New England Colonies were a Puritanical society, who preached against excess.
The New England and Chesapeake colonies were established during the early 1700s. Despite the population originating from England, the regions had distinct societies. This was due to the fact that many settlers voyaged to the New World in search of riches, to seek new lives, or for religious freedom. They differed socially, politically, economically, and geographically.