New england and Chesapeake
The Split of The New England and Chesapeake Regions The Chesapeake and New England regions were made up of mainly Englishmen. Though the settlers came from the same place, their communities evolved into two different societies by 1700. The cause of this split, despite the fact of coming from the same place, was the difference in geography, religious freedoms and social/moral values. Geographically, the settlers were not prepared. Life expectancy for the Chesapeake was very low. The New England people constructed their societies based on circumstances and conditions they needed to survive. Unfortunately, many of the New England people died from diseases such as malarya. During the Dutch attack on the Virginia colony, Govenor Berkely and his militia couldn't defend Virginia because it was too many lakes and rivers. He says " Virginia is intersected by so many vast rivers as makes more miles to defend than we have men of trust to defend them." (G). Immigrants from New England were mostly puritans who believed in a society where there would be no seperation of church and state. They came to the "New World" to have the freedom to practice their religion, without suffering from religious persecution. John Winthrop said "God almighty in his most.....work as one man," emphasizing that God knows what's best for the community.(A). When the men and women transported to the Chesapeake bay came to virginia they went through "examination by the minister of Gravesend, touching their conformity to the Church discipline of England."(C). They also had to take "oaths of allegiance and supremacy."(C) The social/Moral values of the two colonies differed greatly. The Englishmen of the Chesapeake bay came solely for wealth and gold. Many of them died because of the "bitter cold frost" and lack of food.(F) One man murdered, salted and ate his wife. He was later executed. Document B shows the New England colonies migrating in falmilies.(B).