New England vs. Chesapeake

1. New England vs. Chesapeake Development and Differences

3. 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

4. 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)

6. 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%

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

14. 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”

15. 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

16. 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

17. New England vs. Chesapeake

18. Conflict and War

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

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

21. “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