Virginia and Massachussets Settlers

Virginia and Massachussets Settlers

Both colonies wanted change, which is why they both set out to travel to new land. The individuals in both settlements were English but they were both seeking different things. The settlers landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts were more educated and wanted religious freedom. The settlers landing in Jamestown, Virginia were rough and tough individuals who wanted to find gold and strike it rich. In this paper I will be comparing the similarities and differences of the Plymouth settlers and the Jamestow n settlers.
Despite the fact that the original British settlements in Virginia at Jamestown (1607) and New England at Plymouth (1620) were founded in the same relative time period, the two colonies were very different economically, politically and socially. Economically, Jamestown was originally completely dependant on money from the crown and later became dependant on a single cash crop, tobacco. New England, on the other hand, became self sufficient by farming all of their own food. Socially, New England colonists were a close-knit religious group of Puritans that came to escape religious persecution in England. The settlers of Jamestown were upper-class nobles who went to America in search of gold. Politically, Jamestown was set up with a more centralized government and had direct rule from the king. Plymouth had=2 0a decentralized government made by its very own social contract and had no direct rule by the king.
A major difference between the early years of Jamestown and Plymouth was the role religion played in the colonies. Jamestown was a secular community governed by Anglican conformists of wealth and prominence. Practicing their religious beliefs was not important to them. Plymouth on the other hand was a religious community of Puritans committed to pursuing their lives to Calvinist principles. While sharing the same religious principles, Plymouth's political leaders were distinct from its religious leaders. Plymouth's political leaders...

Similar Essays