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.