Virginia vs Massachusetts Settlement, 1607 to 1707 - Essay Example

Lecturer Comparison of the Virginia and Massachusetts Settlement, 1607 to 1707 The Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Virginia Colony are similar, but also different on three main areas; religion, politics and social-economic developments. The Colony of Massachusetts Bay was an English settlement during the 17th century, in the North America’s east coast. This was in New England, around the present day Boston and Salem cities. In 1628, some Puritans persuaded King James to give them the land between Charles River and the Massachusetts Bay in North America. The groups of Puritans were led by Thomas Dudley and John Winthrop. In that same 1628, the Puritans group sent John Endecott to start a plantation in Salem (Winthrop et al. 67). The Colony of Virginia represented the English colony that existed in North America as from 1607 up to the American Revolution. At the end of the English Civil War in the 17th century, the Virginia Colony was given a nickname by King Charles II, and referred to as “The Old Dominion.” This is due to its loyalty to the English monarchy in the duration of the Commonwealth of England. Following independence from the James town, located in the Virginia Colony, was the first English Settlement which was permanent in the United States of America, established in 1607. The five sources of information for this paper are: Social Change and Cultural Conflict in Virginia (1978), The Charters and General Laws of the Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay (2007), Virginia: A Bicentennial History (2007), The Journal of John Winthrop (2006), and Old Dominion, New Commonwealth (1814). Socio-economic Comparison of the two Colonies The economy of Massachusetts Bay Colony heavily relied on trade. This is because the land was not suitable for agricultural activities due to infertility and poor weather conditions. This is unlike the colony of Virginia that boasted of large plantations. The early years of the Massachusetts economy relied heavily on the import of supplies and staples from England. The early economy was also supported by several wealthy immigrants, who invested heavily in the colony. Many businesses started of successfully during early years of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These businesses comprised; fur trades, lumber trades, shipbuilding and fisheries. As from 1632, the ships built in the colony started trading with England, foreign European ports and other colonies. By 1660, the merchant fleet in the colony numbered approximately 200 ships. At the end of the century, the shipyards produced several hundred ships yearly. Timber used in the shipbuilding sector was very significant in the economy of the colony, due to depleted supplies in especially England. Fisher was an important part of the economy because those who participated in it were exempted from military service and also taxation. The colonial government tried to regulate the economy through several ways; for instance, passing laws that regulate the prices of economically important commodities, and wages (Commonwealth of Massachusetts 127). The economy of the Colony of Virginia centered on ensuring profitability of the colony. The first colonists were majorly interested in finding precious metals like gold. However, no gold was found, but several other products like clapboard and pitch were sent back. During 1608, several attempts were directed at creating glassworks. During 1619, the colonists established the first ironworks in Virginia, North America. In 1614 the first plantation attempt proved successful. John Rolfe obtained tobacco from Bermuda and planted in the Colony of Virginia. After a few years, the crop became very lucrative in the markets in Europe (Rubin 45). As the English population enhanced the use of the tobacco products, the tobacco plantations in colonies of America became an important economic aspect. Vast plantations were established along Virginia rivers, and the social and economic systems developed to produce and distribute the cash crop. The plantation system also incorporated the employment or importation of slaves to grow the cash crops. The planters thereafter filled the huge hogsheads with tobacco, and distribute them to the inspection warehouses. Political Comparison of the two Colonies The structure of the colonial government of the Massachusetts Bay colony changed during the duration of the charter. The colonial charter was developed for the corporation’s management. But, the needs of the colonial government were not effectively met through this model. The colonial government started with a corporate entity that comprised; the governor, deputy governor, a council and a court of shareholders. The bicameral legislature comprised representative lower house and body of the freemen. These represented a proportion of the adult inhabitants who are allowed to vote in elections in the colony. The council of the assistants participated in the legislature’s upper house, and represented the last appall judicial court. The charter authorized the general court to elect officers and establish laws for the colony. In 1961, the colony officially implemented the first law codes, referred to as the Massachusetts Body of liberties. This document had 100 criminal and civil laws, illustrating required behavior or punishments. The document also illustrated the Judeo-Christian perspectives recorded in the Bible. In 1643, the Massachusetts colony joined the New England Confederation so as to effectively coordinate administrative and military issues among the Puritan colonies (Winthrop et al. 102). In the formative years of the Virginia Company, the settlement was governed through a council led by the council President. Between 1611 and 1618, the colony settlers were under the martial law later referred to as dale’s Law. This is because the law was implemented through the direction of Sir Thomas Dale. Under the charter of the company, a new governance approach was implemented in 1619. This established the House of Burgesses. The burgesses were the first elected legislative assembly of the new world. From then onwards, the legal system of the colony was based on the English common law (Richard 71). Jamestown, the first settlement of the colony, served as main entry port and capital of the colony. During this period, several capitals or statehouses were utilized and subsequently destroyed by fire. The fires were in most cases accidental; however, Bacon’s Rebellion destruction was intentional. Due to these increased fire incidences, the capital was transferred further inland from Jamestown, to Middle Plantation that was later called Williamsburg. The Virginia capital remained in Williams burg, up to the American Revolution period in 1779, were it was to Richmond, further inland. Religious Comparison of the Two Colonies The colonists in Virginia were supported by the tradition of the established church. As from 1624, the laws required white Virginians to worship in the Church of England, also referred to as the Anglican Church. The operations of the church were supported by the taxes of the colonists. Religion illustrated the integral part of life in the colony; and in most cases distinction was not clear between the civil authority and religious authority (Rubin 54). The Virginia people who favored the establishment but disliked the authority of the church took control of the county courts and parish vestries, to ensure their power on religious issues. Despite the establishment, religious diversity existed among the white settlers. The protestant sects existed in the colony earlier on. They resented the restrictions on their religious practices. In the Massachusetts Bay Colony had preferred religious practices; the Puritan stockholders viewed the colony as religious refuge of their sect. the new Englanders, where the colony settlement was located, went to America to practice religious beliefs that were prevented after restoration and before English civil War. The New Englanders comprised Protestant sects, majorly Puritans. The religion characterized the aspects of life in New England. Puritans were considered non-separatists; this is because they wanted to reform Anglican Church, and not completely abandon it. Puritans converted the Native American to Christianity, and also criminalized the native religions. Puritans believed in education s an instrument of good deeds which result to salvation. The education factor made them establish the Harvard University. The colonialists paid taxes and tithes to finance church operations (Heinnemann & William 217). Conclusion The Virginia colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony developed differently by 1700CE. Even though both of them were started by the English colonists; the two settlements differed based on unique practices and approaches in religion, economy and government. Work cited Heinemann, L. and William, G. Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007. NY: Prentice Hall. 2007. Print. Richard, R. "Social Change and Cultural Conflict in Virginia: Lunenberg County, 1746 to 1774." William and Mary Quarterly. 1978. Print. Rubin, D. “Virginia: A Bicentennial History.” States and the Nation Series. 2007. Print. The Charters and General Laws of the Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay. Boston: Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1814. Print. Winthrop, J. et al. The Journal of John Winthrop, 1630–1649. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 2006. Print. Read More