Jamestown vs. New England
Jamestown and the Massachusetts Bay Colony had many similarities and differences. Many of these differences were due to their physical location and climatic conditions. The success of both colonies can be contributed to strong leadership and the characteristics of the personalities of the settlers that inhabited each settlement. Many of the early problems in both settlements can be contributed to a lack of knowledge on the parts of the settlers along with attacks from neighboring Native American tribes. The Jamestown colony was located near present day James City County, Virginia. Jamestown was the first permanent settlement by the English in what is in current day known as the United States. The location of Jamestown was selected primarily for the fact that it provided a favorable defensive location against any other foreign powers that may have tried to gain control of the colony. John Smith, Robert Hunt along with others provided inspirational leadership for the colonists but even so starvation became a very apparent problem. The hostile relations with the local Native American people and a lack of any profitable exports only made matters worse. Despite this and a horrible winter bearing down on them, the colonists persevered. At the end of the first winter only 60 of the original 214 English colonists survived. (jamestown virginia) The settlers who came over on the initial three ships were not well-equipped for the life they found in Jamestown. In addition to the “Gentry” who was not accustomed to manual or skilled labor, they consisted mainly of English farmers who were not prepared physically or emotionally for the problems that would face them. (old and sold antique digest) Yet despite this they persevered and worked as a team to establish a colony. However, when two ships, crudely constructed in Bermuda, arrived at the settlement with no supplies, when the colonists desperately needed supplies the most, the settlers packed up and abandoned
Cited: "colony of jamestown." old and sold antique digest. 1900. old and sold antique digest. 12 Sep 2008 <C:Documents and SettingsCory RamseyDesktopAP9-12-08jamestownColony Of Jamestown.htm>. "Massachusetts Bay Colony." celebrate boston. 2006. celebrate boston. 14 Sep 2008 <C:Documents and SettingsCory RamseyDesktopAP9-12-08massachussets bayA History of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.htm>. "Massachussettes bay." Massachussettes bay. 2005. 14 Sep 2008 <C:Documents and SettingsCory RamseyDesktopAP9-12-08massachussets bayMASSACHUSETTS BAY--COLONIZATION--NEW ENGLAND.htm>. "jamestown virginia." wikipedia.com. 2008. wikipedia. 12 Sep 2008 <C:Documents and SettingsCory RamseyDesktopAP9-12-08jamestownJamestown, Virginia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm>. "The Massachusettes Bay Colony." wikipedia.com. 2008. wikimedia. 12 Sep 2008 <C:Documents and SettingsCory RamseyDesktopAP9-12-08massachussets bayMassachusetts Bay Colony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm> .