American Colonies: Contrasting the New England and Southern Colonists

American Colonies: Contrasting the New England and Southern Colonists

The New England and Southern Colonies were both settled largely by the

English. By 1700, the regions had evolved into two distinct societies.

The southern colonies have characteristics that are the antithesis of

the New England colonies attributes. New England was colonized for Freedom

of Worship and freedom of political thought. The Southern colonies were

developed for freedom of economic opportunity. The New England colonies had

aspirations for a distinct society, where they could show their homeland,

how a country should be run. The southern colonies had goals for

mercantilism, and increasing the prosperity of England. The New England

colonies were based on theocracy, where the state forced the people to live

and worship in an orthodox way. The southern colonies(Virginia) had a

government based on a royal government, where the state was governed by a

governor and council named by the king, and an elected assembly chosen by

the people. Finally, the New England colonies wanted to establish the

colony for religious motives, while the southern colonies were established

for economic motives.

England and the rebels of England (Pilgrims), made up the New England

and southern colonies. "God Almighty in his most holy and wise providence

hath so disposed of the condition of mankind, in all times some must be

rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity, other mean and

in subjection. Yet we must be knit together in this work as one man."(John

Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity) This statement by John Winthrop,

demonstrates importance of religion in the lives of the New England

settlers. "We must delight in each other, make others' conditions our own,

rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having

before our eyes our commission and community in the work, our community as

members of the same body." (John Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity).

The use of the word "together" and "community" indicates that the New

England settlers were of a communal nature, they were less individualistic

than the southern colonies. The New England colonies were based on

religious freedom, thus their society was reflected the religion.

"These underwritten names are to be transported to Virginia, embarked in

the Merchant's Hope, Hugh Weston, Master, per examination by the minister

of Gravesend touching upon their conformity to the Church discipline of

England, and have taken oaths of allegiance and supremacy:" (Ship's List of

Emigrants Bound for Virginia). The use of the word "Master", shows, that

the southern colonies were more of a individualistic state rather than a

communal state(New England).