The characteristics of individuals have a large impact on the development of a society. The New England and Chesapeake regions were settled primarily by people of English origin; however, by the 1700s the regions had developed into two distinct societies. The distinctions of these societies can be accredited partly to varying motives of the English settlers. The composition of the settlers can also account for the contrast of these two societies. Varying ideals of these settlers affected the political organization of these societies resulting in characteristics unique to each region.
The English settlers’ motives for voyaging to the New World caused them to group together to achieve common goals resulting in the development of two distinct societies. Puritans sought freedom to practice their religious beliefs. The Great Migration of 1630 brought a large number a Puritans to the New England area. Their religious beliefs allowed for great unity among them even as they travelled to an unfamiliar place. (document A) Because of their religious motives, a strict society consisting largely of families formed. However, some colonists were persuaded to travel to the New World with the promise of gold. (document F) These colonists came to the Chesapeake area. Gold did not come as easily as the colonists had hoped for, but the fertile land of the Chesapeake area allowed for a successful production of tobacco—which became their cash crop. The incentive of gold is the reason this area was comprised mostly of young, single men, and the society was bent around making money.
The contrasting societies of the New England region and the Chesapeake region resulted because of the contrasting collection of people travelling to each area. The shores of New England welcomed families planning on staying in the New World. (Document B) The ship headed toward the Chesapeake region contained mostly young single men hoping to quickly become rich. (Document c) Since New England’s population consisted of families, they mostly lived together in small towns. On the contrary, since the Chesapeake region’s population consisted of single men wanting to make money, they mostly lived on small farms or large plantations and towns were rare.
The political structure unique to each region created two societies distinct from each other. Idealistic puritans formed a government