The Virginia colony was advertised as a place that was “commendable and hopeful [in] every way” by the British (doc 8). The reality of life in Virginia for the early settlers, however, was very different. While it is true the land was plentiful and new opportunities were available, most did not have the opportunity to capitalize on those opportunities as they were busy trying not to die. The first colonists faced both internal and external threats as they tried to build a life in Virginia. Three constants of life in early Virginia were suffering, rigidity in government, and the permeation of religion in all things. One universal aspect of life in early Virginia, no matter one’s age, socioeconomic status, or gender, was suffering. Attacks from …show more content…
As described by Percy in document 5, “[They] charged us…hurt Captain Gabrill Archer in both his hands and a sailor.” This was only the beginning of the troubles they would face, though. Soon enough the English began to die; their numbers dwindled rapidly. As explained in document 5 the cause was a combination of diseases, illnesses, and wounds. So many settlers were afflicted that for five months they did not have even “five able men…upon any occasion” (doc 5). This of course also left them incredibly vulnerable to the threat of Native American attacks. Compounding this miserable situation was what came to be known as the “starving time” (doc 6). Many of the first Europeans to arrive in the New World were gentlemen unaccustomed to hard work, and had to adjust quickly if they wanted to survive. However, they did not …show more content…
All early colonists were deeply religious and believed most of what happened to them in America was due to God’s wrath or pleasure. For example, 347 Virginians were massacred by Indians they had previously believed to be their friends, and more would have been killed were it not for one Indian who happened to warn them of another attack. Since the Native was a Christian convert, they saw this warning as an act of God and “the good fruit of an infidel converted to Christianity,” rather than simply an act of a good person. Though many of their people were killed, they still felt they were able to say “blessed be God forever, whose mercy endureth forever” due to this one act (doc 9). Native conversion was another way religion permeated the early colonists’ lives, as it was one of the main goals of the Virginia colony. A document published by the British explained that the European goal for the natives was to “bring them from their base condition…if they will believe in Him” (doc 8). Even their interactions with the “heathens” involved God. So, therefore everyone accepted laws that mandated that “every man and woman duly twice a day…shall…hear divine service” and that everyone must “have a care that the Almighty God be duly and daily served” (doc 9). Along with suffering and rigidity, religion was a
A fundamental difference between the New England and Southern colonies was the motives of the founders. In 1606, the Virginia Company was formed, motivated primarily by the promise ...
As stated in Document A, unity was encouraged among New Englanders, which developed into close societies. The close societies often built a bond of trust within the community, knowing that neighbors would come together during times of danger. Document A also stresses the importance of working together as one, and to promote the welfare of the community. By doing so, the community is allowed to strive and flourish. On the contrary, Document F supports the idea that there was little unity within the Chesapeake societies. Document F asserts, “There was no talk…but dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold…” Shown in Documents B and D, the emigrants to New England were often whole families. Families in the society resulted in population increases because of higher reproduction rates. The higher reproduction rates allowed for more stable societies. As Documents C, F, and G assert, the Chesapeake region consisted mainly of single men and few women. Few women in the area resulted in a small number of families, l...
While the Protestant Revolution raged in Europe, Catholics and other radicals were fleeing to the New World to find religious freedom and to escape prosecution. Because of this, the northern colonies became more family and religiously orientated as the families of the pilgrims settled there. From the Ship’s List of Emigrants Bound for New England we see that six families on board made up sixty nine of the ships passengers (B). Not only did families tend to move to New England, but whole congregations made the journey to find a place where they could set up “a city upon a hill”, and become an example to all who follow to live by as John Winthrop put it to his Puritan followers (A). Contrastingly, the Chesapeake colonies only had profit in their mind, which pushed them to become agriculturally advanced. Since Virginia, one of the Chesapeake colonies, was first settled with the intention of becoming an economic power house, it was mainly inhabited by working-class, single men. The average age of a man leaving for the Americas was only twenty two and a half years old according to the Ship’s List of Emigrants bound for Virginia (C). The harsh conditions of the colony did not appeal to those who wished to settle with a family. Added on to that was the fact that the average lifespan in the Chesapeake colonies was a full ten years or more shorter than that in other more desirable living quarters to the north.
Looking at the early English colonies in the Chesapeake Bay region, it’s clear that the English had not learned any lessons from their experiences at Roanoke. Poor planning, a bad location, unrealistic expectations, flawed leadership, unsuccessful relations with the local Indians, and no hope of finding the mineral wealth the Spanish found in Mexico, all contributed to failure. The first colonists in the Chesapeake region were not only ignorant, lazy and unambitious, but their attempts were hampered before they had begun. However, a solution to these problems was found in a single plant: tobacco. Nevertheless, this cash crop ultimately created numerous problems for the colonists. The ignorance and indolent acts of the Chesapeake colonists to unsuccessfully restore the colony by themselves led to the demise of the colony as a whole especially regarding the planting of agricultural goods for food.
Another reason why so many colonists died was because of their relations with the Native Americans. If they did not cut people’s heads of (Document D) because they didn’t want to trade, maybe they could of got some food. They also went through a series of 3 wars with the Powhatan Natives. The first war lasted from 1610-1614 (4 years) which really affected the colonists during the Starving time. If they did not massacre the Natives, maybe they could've traded for
People’s main motives were not religious, but to “dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold,”(Doc F). This resulted in competition, rather than bonding, over the settlement. The economy of the Chesapeake region made it more profitable to spread out, making the development of cities, schools, and churches more difficult. When the Joint Stock Co landed at Jamestown, they were looking for gold. Even though no gold appeared, John Rolfe’s founding of tobacco (Doc F) as a cash crop, and Virginia’s headright system, ensured people would continue to mold the Chesapeake and leave behind a mercantilist environment. The Chesapeake drew mostly single men, who came for individual profit, and indentured servants (Doc C). The economic gap between rich and poor was much larger, especially after the introduction of slaves and indentured servants, in the Chesapeake region than in New England. The Articles of Agreement shown in (Doc D) stated a common goal of “everyone’s quality and estate.” As they developed a much tighter community, they were more invested in the prosperity of everyone in their community. (Doc E) says that laborers “consider the religious end of their callings,” this shows that there was a religious motive to serve God by striving to maintain the strength of their
Beginning with the idea of independence, Breen explains that the people within society sought no form of constraint by a higher political leader, but at times worked together to make sure their colony was stable Moreover, by understanding their preferences, it is safe to say that they were more comfortable with having the freedom they had from not having a higher ruler. Due to the many immigrants that came in from the European rule, higher classes within the colonies of Virginia sought the opportunity to gain independence. This way, as Breen points out, the gentry were able to control as much land and property as they willed. Consequently, the amount of personal possessions among the people lead into a society built by competitiveness and they obsession of always having
Early Virginia's flourishing cultivation of tobacco drew a diversity of people, from fresh war veterans and former soldiers, to adventurers and ordinary people looking to recoup from former monetary losses. However the tobacco did not only alter the country culturally and economically, but it “ threw more wood into the fire.” It strengthened the infamous individualistic attitude the colonists had. The advent...
Colonists were extremely adamant for the most part about Christianity being the one true religion. Many set out to convert the Native Americans. They believed that the Native Americans were savages for their differences in spirituality. Fear began to build in the settlers as they believed that the Native Americans where a religion less evil people. These foreign travelers whom have already commandeered their home are now attempting to force them to give up their own religion and overall worldview and adopt Christianity. The colonists treated them as if they are inferior simply on the premise of difference in religion thus forming the assumption that they had none. How could that possibly end well for either group
Colonial living in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in the New World was both diverse and, in many cases, proved deadly through such avenues as disease, Native American attacks, a lack of proper medical treatment, and disastrous weather conditions. Even through all of these hardships, the first colonists persevered, doing their best to see the blessings in their lives and create a better life for their children through all of the uncertainties. Nothing, it seems, in the original colonies was set in stone except for the fact that they never knew what the next day would hold in store. Everything, even small mishaps, had dramatic impacts on the social, economic, and political aspects of their lives. These circumstances, however, were more strongly influenced by geography than class position, unlike what many were used to in England. How population, economics, disease, and climate played into the social conditions of early colonists is truly a story for the ages. Whether people were seeking land, religious freedom, or money and profits, everyone worked to a certain extent just to survive, let alone thrive, in the wilderness that was North America at that time.
...ere settlers religiously diverse, but the groups also managed to convert some of the natives to their own religions. The colonists were actually more independent than the citizens directly in England.
Chesapeake colonies of Virginia and Maryland were settled in the early 17th century. It was a difficult live for the first colonist; they had limited labor and were constantly raided by Native Americans. Colonist tried to use the Native Americans as a source of slavery. Most of the colonist’s farms were by forest areas so Native Americans would just leave in to the woods. Colonists were afraid of pressuring them from the fear of getting ambushed by gangs of Native Americans. Another reason Native Americans men made bad slaves was because the women in the tribes did the agricultural work in the Native American villages.
Many colonist viewed the Native Americans as spawn of the devil. In Thomas Morton’s writing he said “if we do not judge amiss of these savages in accounting them witches,… some correspondence they have with the Devil out of all doubt.” (Foner 5) An example of historical content is the Metacom’s War by the year of 1675. The Indians in southern New England didn’t like the new settlers pushing on new religion and harsh treatment. Some of the Indians “converted to Christianity, living in protected ‘praying towns.’” (Jones, Wood, Borstelmann, May, and Ruiz 68) The Indians were ok with the conditions until “a white man shot and wounded a Native American.” (Jones, Wood, Borstelmann, May, and Ruiz 69) Colonist began to even distrust the Indians that were willing to convert to Christianity and moved their “praying towns” to “Deer Island in Boston Harbor” (Jones, Wood, Borstelmann, May, and Ruiz 69) This historical content shows that the colonist didn’t truly trust the Indians even when they were of the same religion, like Morton’s writing said “they have with the Devil out of all doubt” (Foner
...ve in Virginia did not mean immigrants were free from its rule. Upon departing England, those leaving would take an “oath of allegiance and supremacy” (Virginia Ship’s List). This meant that the people owed their loyalty to the monarch of England, not to Virginia itself. The colonists of Virginia could have been frustrated that their head official was chosen by a single person, a person who had no place within their community. In fact, Berkeley, the governor the monarch of England elected, “brought high taxes on the people, increased his power at the expense of local officials and created a monopoly on Indian trade” (Divine, 85). This abuse of power is possibly one of the causes of rebellions, specifically Bacon’s rebellion. This republic government leading the Virginia Colony was an increasingly stark contrast to the Massachusetts’ Colony’s democratic government.
Though there were religious concerns that contributed to the settling of British North America, the economic concerns outweighed the notable religious concerns. A religious concern that played a role in British colonization was that the British wanted to have the Indians of North America converted to Protestant Christianity (Boorstin et al. 34). In addition, specific groups that were seeking religious freedom used the British colonizing as a venue to achieve this objective. Such groups included the Puritan separatists who had begun to lose their freedoms in England, and thus they became colonists in New England.