Chesapeake Bay

Although the New England and Chesapeake regions were both settled largely by people of English origin, by 1700 the two had evolved into two distinct societies. It would be impossible to explain each of the hundreds of reasons for this change in development but, there were many important factors whose effects can be seen. Some of these factors were religious motives, economic motives, environment (for crops) , and social life.

New England was a safety blanket for religious separatists leaving England. The Pilgrims, as they were called, were separating from the Anglican church and escaping religious persecution in England by coming to America. Other Puritans soon flocked to America hoping to "purify" the Anglican Church and develop a colony which would be a model to the world. John Winthrop believed that it was their job to create “ a city upon a hill”, a conoly that would be a model Christian society to the rest of the world (DOC A) . The massachusets Bay colony’s local government was controlled by the same people who controlled the church. New England formed very family and religiously oriented communities. The bible was the foundation for all laws and regulations. In New Enlgand all people were given land to have a house and a place to plant crops (DOC D). Because of the soil in New England, most people practiced substanance farming, which is when when people grow crops for their own survival. To make up for the lack of farming, New Englanders turned to fishing and the merchant marine, and by 1700, this was one of the largest industries in the colonies. New Englanders also regulated their wages and prices ( DOC E). They believed that people should not flourish and become rich, while their neighbors are impoverished. Everything was beased on the Utopian idea that everyone should strive to make their community better before themselves. As a result of the religious control the society in New England became very conservative, and life was simplistic. In contrast, life in the Chesapeake region was opposite that of New England’s.

The people immigrating from England to the Chesapeake region were not idealists, like seen in England, but on the other hand were materialists, most of which sought wealth and gold (DOC F). Some even tried to go back to England when they difficulties instead