New England vs. Chesapeake

Development and Differences

New England (Massachusetts Bay)

• Puritans– Reform Church of England from within

• 1629 major persecution under Charles-I – 400 settlers left with charter for Mass Bay

• 1630 expedition led by John Winthrop;– 700 settlers– City on a Hill (sermon while under way)– Usual 1st year mortality figures

• By 1634 – 10,000+ settlers

New England (Massachusetts Bay)• Religion was primary driving force for society

– Colony rules required church attendance, set tithe rates– Organized by individual congregations - chose own minister,

controlled own finances, membership (who actually was a “saint” - born again/salvation experience publicly recounted)

– Only the “saints” could vote• Not a theocracy (rule by the clergy), but all laws would

follow biblical teaching• “Meeting House” served as both church and town hall

– All houses within ½ mile of meeting house (travel time on Sabbath)

Education• Education important (had to be

able to read the Bible men AND women)

• Every town over 50 had to have a school master, over 100 had to have a grammar school– attendance not mandatory

• Harvard founded in 1638 to educate clergy

• Literacy Rate – New England: men - 90%, women

40%– Other colonies 35%-50%– England 30%

Expansion of New England Colonies• Expansion seeking new land

– Connecticut (1635)– New Hampshire– Maine

• Expansion due to religious differences– Rhode Island (1631)

• Roger Williams - Kicked out for heresy (separation of church and state [state would corrupt church], no mandatory attendance, religious tolerance); est. Providence. Other dissenters followed;

• Anne Hutchinson (1638) - kicked out for heresy: knew scripture better than her accusers; called Puritans on own game (how can person judge interior state on outward signs)

New England (Massachusetts Bay)• Strengths:

– Close-knit family groups– Compact communities– Relatively healthy environment– Education– Self-governance based on written documents

• Mayflower Compact (1620)• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1635)• Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641)

New England (Massachusetts Bay)• Issues:

– Short growing season– Relatively poor soil– Indians (mostly wiped out by epidemics prior to

arrival of Pilgrims [1620])• Only a few dozen in Mass.

– Sell land– Settle into “praying towns”

• Approx 10,000 in all New England– Conflicts in Conn River valley – see text (pg. 79, 83) for details

» Pequot War (1637)» King Philip’s War (1642)

Chesapeake (Virginia-Maryland)• 1619 House of Burgesses established

• similar to the British Parliament, that would meet once annually.• It was the first such assembly in the Americas. • Beginnings of bi-cameral legislature:

– The governor, appointed by the King/Parliament– The governor’s council, six prominent citizens selected by the governor– The burgesses (representatives) from various locales, and larger plantations.

– 1624 King James revokes charter, disbands House– Charles (1632) allows measure of self-government; Reinstitutes

House of Burgesses• Economics primary driving force

– Tobacco trade influenced most decisions– A few wealthy planters (“First Families”), majority (75%)

indentured servants, poor farmers• Small number of black slaves

Chesapeake (Virginia-Maryland)• Settlements spread along rivers

– ~6 people per square mile– “Community” seldom more than a couple dozen

• Within 3 mile walk• Women

– “Target rich” environment (< 1/3 of males could find a bride)

– Negotiate very favorable marriage terms• Keep much of their property if widowed• Often had perpetual control• Pass it along to children on remarriage

– Many step families

Chesapeake (Virginia-Maryland)• Religion

– Church of England official religion– Hierarchical

• Appointed groups governed parishes, finances, poor relief– Widely scattered parishes

• 10 ministers for 45 parishes• Religion played minor role

• Government– Royal governor and council, locally elected reps– English Common Law– Travelling (Circuit) Courts– Controlled by “First Families”

Chesapeake (Virginia-Maryland)• Strengths:

– Solid economic basis with cash crop– Lots of available land– Individual self-sufficiency

• Spread out, had to rely on own resources– Few Indian issues

• <3,500 by 1650• Retreated towards frontier, settled in “reservations”

– Established representative government– Benign religious environment

Chesapeake (Virginia-Maryland)• Issues:

– Serious mortality due to disease– Transportation difficulties

• limited expansion to rivers• Few places for new arrivals, released indentured servants to expand

into– Economy at the mercy of tobacco prices

• Haves and have-nots– Corruption issues with government

• Conflict between Crown reps and local reps• Each take care of own• Bacon’s Rebellion (1675) see page 80 in text

New England vs. Chesapeake

Conflict and War

HW: Read pp76 (Prop. Colonies) – 84; GIST

Follow-up

• Lexington Practice DBQ (HW)• Enduring Voices set 3-3• 1993 Chesapeake-N.E. DBQ (HW)

“Enduring Voices”Document Analysis

• Groups of ~4• Pp 62-70

– Intro, preview questions– Read docs– Discuss questions 1-6 among group (jot down

thoughts to share)– Large group discussion