Virginia_and_Massachusettes_Bay_Colonies

Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were two colonies that were colonized by England but both developed into different societies. Some of the contributing factors to how they both developed differently can be found from the geography, demography, ideology, and economy of both colonies. During the 17th century, England showed interested in the colonization of America. Some of the reasons why English emigrants showed interest in moving to America were because of religious and economic purposes. Some settlers from England wanted to worship their religion in their own way while others wanted more opportunity in land ownership. As a result of the colonization of America, Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were two colonies that were established within Chesapeake and New England, respectively. Although Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were both established by England, the early developments of growth were both colonies were different and Massachusetts Bay had more success as a colony than Virginia due to factors such as demography, geography, ideology and economy. Geography was a contributing factor in the development of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay. The locations of these two colonies played a significant role in their growth due to the land and resources but the Massachusetts Bay colony benefited far more than Virginia. In 1606, English colonists set sail to America to launch a new colony in Virginia. Jamestown was the first village in Virginia and selected by the leaders of the colony, the London Company. The selection of this location was viewed as promising and an ideal location to build a fort in the case of a surprise attack from Native Americans or Spain. Without the consultation of resident Native Americans, Jamestown proved to be unsuccessful for development due to the low-lying ground that “proved to be a disease-ridden death trap,” (Divine, page 32). The drinking water was contaminated due to salt, and the location was cut-off from the mainland. Because of this, Virginia relied on England to provide supplies for survival. The geography of Virginia also offered little hunting and provided limited grounds for farming due to the marshy ground. Massachusetts Bay on the other hand, fared far much better from the geography. The geography in Massachusetts Bay provided clean drinking water, a much favorable climate, abundant sources of fish and wildlife, and resources from the forest for wood and timber. The geography of Massachusetts Bay provided a means of survival because of the resources available and as a result, the life expectancy was far greater than Virginia. Based on the geographical locations of Virginia and Mass. Bay, Mass. Bay saw more promise of growth due to the climate and resources that were available to the colony. The geography hindered the development of growth for Virginia because the resources were too limited for sources of water and poor soil for farming. Demography was another factor in the development of both colonies and Mass. Bay prospered far more than Virginia. Mass. Bay consisted of Pilgrims and Puritans, where Pilgrims started in Plymouth and later with the Puritans in Mass. Bay. Pilgrims were humble English farmers and replicated their farm communities from England to America. Puritans, on the other hand, were strict based on their religion and were considered as prudes. Plymouth didn’t attract too many new settlers as it was limited in economic prospects, and was eventually absorbed by the Mass. Bay colony. Pilgrims and Puritans traveled to America as family units and were more stable. This opened up for growth in the population as most people married neighbors and through marriage, created new households. Family played an important role as well as education and religion. Most males in Mass. Bay were well educated. As for the Virginia, the demography consisted of single male teens or early twenties arriving to America as indentured servants. They agreed to serve a master for a certain amount of years, based on age, in exchange for transportation to America. Most died soon after arriving and family life was impossible in Virginia as the life expectancy wasn’t too long due to contagious diseases and attacks from Native Americans. Children were expected to be orphaned, due to the low life expectancy, and women were scarce as men outnumbered women to as much as six to one. The development between the two colonies was complete opposite of each other based on demography. Mass. Bay fared much better as a developing colony because of their demography rather than Virginia. Both ideologies of the two colonies contributed to the differences in development with Virginia and Mass. Bay where Mass. Bay prospered as opposed to Virginia. The main purpose of the Puritan settlements in America was due to religious persecution. Being nationalistic, Puritans had a desire to implement a foreign policy that would align England with all Protestant states in Europe. When this was not accomplished, the Puritans led by John Winthrop, decided to use America as a settlement to establish a better society. Puritans were committed to changing the major institutions of their society and had no intention of separation from the Church, although they disagreed with anything they found objectionable from the Church. Bound by a common bond, Puritans had a common belief urging everyone to fulfill the commandments of Scripture. Puritans were committed to changing the major institutions of their society. Congregationalism was the result of a social institution that was created in which it stressed simplicity and where each congregation was independent. Churches in Massachusetts were primarily voluntary and in order to join, a testimony before their neighbors was required for full membership. Another example that helped shaped the ideology of Mass. Bay was the implementation of Laws and Liberties of 1648 in order to protect individual rights and clarify responsibilities of citizenship. On the other hand, the goal of the colonization of Virginia was strictly for profit. Individuals pursued their own personal interests, including those who governed the colony, searching for gold rather than planting crops for survival. This was also evident with King James I when he changed his mind about tobacco. King James I viewed tobacco as immoral and unhealthy, but did not object when money from tobacco continued to grow. The labor system in Virginia attempted to replicate traditional work experience but this system nearly became the collapse of the colony. Laborers had to share what work was available and did not help the cause in an environment where people were starving because not enough labor was used for planting and harvesting crops. The ideology of Virginia was never established as each individual was either out for personal gain or did not have any order. It wasn’t until John Smith seized control of the ruling council in 1608 and instituted a military discipline to the colony, bringing order out of anarchy. Although no one enjoyed special privileges and hated to work for him, he managed to keep the colony alive. Because of this, leaders of the Virginia Company recognized that change was needed and a new charter was obtained from the king and reorganized the government of the Virginian colony. All political and commercial decisions affecting the colonists rested with the company. As the ideologies of both colonies differed, Mass. Bay had far more potential in the development of the colony. Ideologies of Mass. Bay stressed unity through religion and building a new community as opposed to Virginia’s ideology of using the colony to provide profit for the company that owned the colony. Finally, economy is another factor helped shape the development of the two colonies. Both colonies found ways to produce income based on the resources that were available to them. John Rolfe recognized the value cultivating tobacco. Since tobacco can be easily grown and money could be made, settlers who avoided work now had the mindset to involve themselves in this business. This allowed Virginians to possess a means to make income. Another means of making Virginia profitable was Sir Edwin Sandys idea of private investors developing their own estates in Virginia. In order to make the colony more attractive to the wealthy, Sandys promised for an elective representative assembly called the House of Burgesses. Another contributing effort from Sandys was the distribution of land. Colonists who paid for their own transportation to America were guaranteed “a headright, a 50-acre lot for which they paid only a small annual rent.” (Divine, pg 34) In Mass. Bay, trade was the main source of income for the economy. Fur and timber, for building ships, were sources of trade value. Spinning and weaving was done at homes as another source of income. As early as 1632 ships built in the colony began trading, either with other colonies, England, or foreign ports in Europe. In conclusion, the early developments of the Virginia and Mass. Bay colonies differed because of their geography, demography, ideology, and economy. Virginia suffered early on due to the lack of fresh water and resources, unfavorable weather, and marshy land for crops. Virginian settlers also had to deal with disease and threat of Native Americans and as a result, could not grow in its population. Virginians also had a mentality of looking after one’s own interest and as a result, many starved due to the lack of production from the colony. Mass. Bay started out with their own struggles. But with the help from fresh clean water and resources, family units instead of single males emigrating to the colony, and a goal of sacrifice instead of self-interest help Mass. Bay became a successful colony.