Colonial Differences Analysis

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Colonial Difference in Development: North vs. South Colonial America was settled largely by people of English origin; Thus, one would think that, as a whole, the colonies would develop similar cultures and ways of life. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Despite having people of the same origin, the colonies in the New England region and the Chesapeake region developed radically differently from each other. By 1700, the two colonial regions had developed into two distinct societies; each had its own values, appearances, and economies. The difference in development between the two colonial regions was no accident; many different factors had a hand in shaping each region’s way of life. Differences in motives, immigration, values, …show more content…
In A Model of Christian Charity, written in 1630, Winthrop extolled the glory of God and the colony’s righteous goal of becoming a shining beacon for all Christians. He declared that “we must be knit together in this work as one man. . . our community as members of the same body. . . we shall be as a city upon a hill” (Doc A). Even from just these few lines, the reader can easily get a sense of the moral values that Winthrop, and a majority of Puritans, prized so highly. As a result, the settlers were deeply unified in their cause and mission in the New World. They certainly shared a sense of purpose and determination in their goal to become a model of holy living for all of humanity. The Articles of Agreement of Massachusetts, written in 1636, stated, “We intend. . . to procure some Godly and faithful minister with whom we purpose to join in church covenant to walk in all the ways of Christ” (Doc D). Here, the profound religious devotion of the New Englanders to be holy is highly apparent. The deeply ingrained beliefs of the very religious New Englanders played a pivotal role in their social development and way of life. They did not focus exclusively on money like the Chesapeake and instead connected it with their religious calling; the Wage and Price Regulations of Connecticut stated, …show more content…
In addition, they affected the settlement patterns of the colonists, especially in the south. Due to the massive size of plantations in the Chesapeake, settlements were noticeably distant from each other. As a result, there were no large urban settlements, and schools were few and far between; parents usually resorted to private tutors for educating their children. The large gaps in social class resulted in unequal distribution of land between settlers. In contrast, New England settlements were much closer together and usually distributed an equal amount of land and housing to families. “That every inhabitant shall have a convenient proportion for a house lot, as we shall see for everyone’s quality and estate. . .” (Doc D). The setup of towns and villages allowed more socializing between families and individuals; the New England colonies certainly had a more urban feel than the Chesapeake.
Although, the New England and Chesapeake regions were both settled mainly by people of English origin, they evolved into two entirely different societies. These differences in development occurred due to a number of interconnected factors that together influenced how each region developed over time. New England and the Chesapeake went down different paths of growth as a result of different motives, values,

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