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