Difference Between New England And The Chesapeake Region

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By 1700, New England and the Chesapeake region had developed into two very distinct societies. They had a variety of differences that caused them to become separate settlements, even though they were both settled by those of English origin. These differences included their purpose, their economy, the geography, and demographics.
The English’s purpose of coming to the New World had a major impact on the separation of the settlements. Those who chose to come to New England came for freedom of religion. They had a strict code of morality, were organized, and came to stay. They believed in self reliance and independence, which resulted in the Mayflower Compact. In these New England colonies, religion/Puritanism was so important that the number one priority for the settlers at Springfield was finding a minister. (Document D) The colonies intended to be a “city on a hill”, a beacon of Christian hope to the world. (Document A) Those who came to the Chesapeake region had a more temporary plan. They didn’t come for religion, but for the desire of money. They came over to gain profit, with plans to go back to England once they had enough of it. To some, it was all about getting gold, as expressed in Document F. These settlers were very poorly organized. They were also tolerant when it came to religion, so there were a variety of religions there. The differences between the two societies in their purpose of coming to the New World affected the separation of them. The people would not be able to work together as one colony because they were there for different reasons.
The two colonies were also very different by their economic system. The settlers in New England tended to put religion over economics. They believed that the tradesmen and laborers should consider the ‘religious end of their callings’ so that they may serve God and their neighbors with their arts and trades comfortably. ( Document E) In New England a lot of people m...