The Differences Which the Regions of New England and Chesapeake Developed in the United States

The Chesapeake and New England Colonies: A Comparison During the late 16th century and into the 17th century, European nations rapidly colonized the newly discovered Americas. England in particular sent out numerous groups to the eastern coast of North America to two regions. These two regions were known as the Chesapeake and the New England areas. Later, in the late 1700's, these two areas would bond to become one nation.

In 1419, Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal began the period of time known as the “Age of Exploration”. Europe’s leading superpowers, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, and England, all competed for colonization in unknown territories. Samuel de Champlain colonized along the St. Lawrence River in 1608, Henry Hudson of Holland established Albany in 1609, and Spain established colonies in Mexico and Mesoamerica. In 1607, England established its first colony in North America around the Chesapeake Bay, and nearly a decade later established a second colony in present-day New England. Both New England and the Chesapeake were founded by the British around the same time; however, both colonies developed a different economy, government, and many other ways of life.

The early colonies of America were all settled with the thoughts of a better life, but different settlers had varying aspirations which led to the first colonies having notable differences amongst them. The northern settlements of New England were more heavily influenced with the idea of freedom from The Church of England while the immigrants who settled in the south were more monetarily influenced. Both settlements desired to come to America for a sense of freedom, whether it be from the church or to tap new resources and establish a proprietary gain. Although both colonies established structure and a sense of independence, there were differences. These differences led to variations in government, religious practices, social culture, and most notably the economic variants of northern and southern settlements.

Comparing the New England and Chesapeake Regions The New England colonies were formed by Protestants who were escaping England. They ‘planned’ their society. When they came over they brought entire families, not just random people.

Comparing Chesapeake and New England Bay Colonies Curiosity and bravery led the English to discover the nations of America. These strong willed Europeans, determined to find to a new world, set out with high hopes and ambitions. Settling a variety of colonies along the coast of North America, the English were among the first true pioneers. After several expeditions and ships loads of emigrants, the English had a divergence of reasons for departing Europe for America. The settlers of the Chesapeake and New England colonies, were foreigners to the land, established two exceptional but contrary societies due to the diversity of English citizens.

As colonies of the British Empire, both the New England and Chesapeake regions were inhibited by innumerable immigrants of English origin. Despite this common characteristic, the two areas greatly differed from each other. New England was more tolerant and community based whereas the Chesapeake was focused more directly on personal wealth and land. While they both drew from British influence, the distinct conditions in each region caused them to develop separately and become unique in their own way.

Christopher Newport, the admiral that transported John Smith and many of the colonists from England, left the Jamestown colony in the fall of 1607. Immediately all work in the settlement ceased to exist. The colonists had decided to wait on Newport to return with new workers. The plan was for the natives to provide food for them while they waited. When the natives never came with food, Ratcliffe, the current president of the colony, ordered John Smith to visit the neighboring natives and trade tools and metals for corn. The natives had noticed how the English were unable to feed themselves by planting their own crops. The natives refused to trade more than a few handfuls of corn and bread for the hatchets and iron that were offered. Smith realized the reason why the Kecoughtans were not trading more than just those small amounts and created a way to solve the problem. To prove to the natives that the English were not poor, Smith gave free beads and trinkets to the children. This was to show the Kecoughtans that the English were economically strong and possessed more valuable items. Smith used the mentality of “weakness in appearance…was weakness in reality” (Price 57) to justify his travels from village to village, collecting a large of amount of corn, bread, and other foods for the Jamestown colonists. Smith thought the natives would trade more food if they did not realize what a small amount of food stores that the English had actually acquired. If the natives had known what large quantities of food Smith had actually traded for, they would have realized how desperate the state of the colonists. Smith performed his trading sessions this way “’least they should perceive my too great want.’” (Price 57) In this manner, John Smith saved the ent...

European nations began to colonize what now is the east coast of Northern America around the late 16th and then in onto the 17th century. Many proud nations decided to send their fleet of people to the New World especially Great Britain. England established to colonies along the coast that were know as New England and Chesapeake. Between these two colonies we have what are known as the middle colonies. This area was originally settled by the Dutch and was formerly named New Amsterdam and then finally by Great Britain. Although these colonies shared many things in common and were all quite close to each other, they also had major differences.

Life in New England Opposed To The Chesapeake Bay In The 1600s During the 1600's, many people in the American colonies led very many different lives, some better than others. While life was hard for some groups, other colonists were healthy and happy. Two groups that display such a difference are the colonists of New England and Chesapeake Bay.

Between 1606 and 1700, the settlers sponsored by the London Company sailed to Virginia in hopes of getting rich and obtaining land. These people became known as the settlers of England’s Virginia Colony. What the settlers experienced was nothing like the success that was imagined for “Virginia, Earth’s only paradise! (Doc A)” to hold. The challenges of Virginia can be illustrated by these 3 things: the lust for gold, tobacco, and the first few winters.