Essay, Research Paper: Essay On Colonies

Essay on Colonies
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The New England and Southern Colonies were both settled largely by the English. By
1700, the regions had evolved into two distinct societies.

The southern colonies have characteristics that are the antithesis of the New England
colonies attributes. New England was colonized for Freedom of Worship and freedom of
political thought. The Southern colonies were developed for freedom of economic
opportunity. The New England colonies had aspirations for a distinct society, where
they could show their homeland, how a country should be run. The southern colonies
had goals for mercantilism, and increasing the prosperity of England. The New England
colonies were based on theocracy, where the state forced the people to live and
worship in an orthodox way. The southern colonies(Virginia) had a government based
on a royal government, where the state was governed by a governor and council
named by the king, and an elected assembly chosen by the people. Finally, the New
England colonies wanted to establish the colony for religious motives, while the
southern colonies were established for economic motives.

England and the rebels of England (Pilgrims), made up the New England and southern
colonies. "God Almighty in his most holy and wise providence hath so disposed of the
condition of mankind, in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent
in power and dignity, other mean and in subjection. Yet we must be knit together in
this work as one man."(John Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity) This statement by
John Winthrop, demonstrates importance of religion in the lives of the New England
settlers. "We must delight in each other, make others' conditions our own, rejoice
together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our
commission and community in the work, our community as members of the same body."
(John Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity). The use of the word "together" and
"community" indicates that the New England settlers were of a communal nature, they
were less individualistic than the southern colonies. The New England colonies were
based on religious freedom, thus their society was reflected the religion.

"These underwritten names are to be transported to Virginia, embarked in the
Merchant's Hope, Hugh Weston, Master, per examination by the minister of Gravesend
touching upon their conformity to the Church discipline of England, and have taken
oaths of allegiance and supremacy:" (Ship's List of Emigrants Bound for Virginia). The
use of the word "Master", shows, that the southern colonies were more of a
individualistic state rather than a communal state(New England). This individualism was
the effect of the motivation of the southern colonies for economic opportunity.

"We whose names are underwritten, being by God's providnce engaged together to
make a plantation...." (Articles of Agreement). The New England settlers, again were of
a communal nature, in how they are binding together for the good of the community.
"We intend by God's grace, as soon as we can with all convenient speed, to procure
some Godly and faithful minster with whom we purpose to join in church covenant to
walk in the ways of Christ."(Articles of Agreement). The statement above, shows how
the minister, was the head of the theocracy, of the small communities. Furthermore,
the "Articles of Agreement", demonstates the importance of sharing within the
community. This article, was another product of the motivation of the New England
settlers for religious freedom.

"This court... in the interim recommends [that] all tradesmen and laborers consider the
religious end of their callings...". The puritans believed everyone had a specific duty in
life, something that one was proficient at. Almost all the mores and society itself
radiated from religion, as a result, many people who couldn't endure the rigidity of such
a society were exiled and the dissenters created new societies.

"The worst[among us were the gold seekers who]with their golden promises made all
men their slaves in hope of recompenses. There was no talk... but dig gold, wash gold,
refine gold, load gold.." (Captain John Smith, History of Virginia). The southern colonists
were a people who settled in the southern colonies for econmic motives. The people
were more materialistic, and individualistic, thus greed prevailed. Conversely, the New
England settlers were of a spiritual nature, and were dispassionate in materialistic
matters. The drive of the southern colonists were toward economic prosperity.

"For by our nearest computation we leave at our backs as many servants(besides
Negroes) as there are friedman to defend the shores and all our frontiers [against] the
Indians....[This] gives men fearful apprehensions of the danger they leave their estates
and families in, while they are drawn from their houses to defend the
borders."(Governor Berkeley and His Council on Their Inability to defend Virginia Against
a Dutch Attack). The southern colonists were protective of their land, and were
seeking more and more land. The colonists' idea was for more economic prosperity
coming from more and more land. The southern colonists were motivated for economic
prosperity.

"Let us observe the sudden rise of their estates...[compared] with the quality in which
they first entered this country." (Bacons "Manifesto"). This statement shows how the
southern colonists had progressed by arriving to America because of their economic
motivation. The advancement is a result of economic drive toward prosperity.

The colonies were settled chiefly by the same race of people. The distinct quality that
seperated the southern colonists from the New England colonists is that the motivation
of the two were distinct, and as a result two colonies diverged in their goals. The
southern colonists were aiming for economic prosperity; the presence of vast quantities
of cheap land in America opened opportunities for economic advancement unknown in
overcrowded Europe. The religious freedom was a major contribution because in Europe
religious toleration was almost unknown, and dissenters were looked down upon.