Massachusetts Bay Colony Analysis

During the 1700's, people in the American colonies lived in very distinctive societies. While some colonists led hard lives, others were healthy and prosperous. The two groups who showed these differences were the colonists of the New England and Chesapeake Bay areas. The differentiating characteristics among the Chesapeake and New England colonies developed due to economy, religion, and motives for colonial expansion. The colonists of the New England area possessed a very happy and healthy life. This high way of living was due in part to better farming, a healthier environment, and a high rate of production because of more

Quakers- those who condemned extravagance, sought to restore Christianity to its early simple spirituality; William Penn made Pennsylvania a refuge for his fellow Quakers who refused to pay taxes or serve in the military for the Church of England.

Time later, in the colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn and the Quakers proved that Indian-European relations did not have to be based on intolerance or violence. Penn showed respect for Native American culture, and wanted to treat Native Americans as equals, and acknowledged their land rights. Because of their commitment to tolerance and mutual respect, the Quakers and their Native American neighbors lived in peace for over half a

This paper will explore the history of the colonial settlements of the Quakers, who are also known as the Society of Friends, who settled in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in colonial times. The history surrounding the establishment and growth of the Quaker colonies of West Jersey and Pennsylvania will be discussed. William Penn’s efforts in establishing the colonies of West Jersey and Pennsylvania were paramount to Quakers immigrating to America. John Fenwick also played a major role in founding the colony of West Jersey, which is now known as New Jersey and the later immigration of Quakers to Pennsylvania. The abolitionist efforts of the Quakers in their fight against slavery, their equal treatment of slaves and the assistance that they provided to slaves will also be discussed. Quakers provided shelter, financial support and harbored many slaves so that they could avoid capture by their owners. Quakers were a large part of the abolitionist movement in the colonies while slavery was legal. Many Quakers played a role in the Underground Railroad, which assisted slaves in obtaining their freedom and avoiding capture. The terms “Quaker” and Society of Friends are interchangeable and will be used throughout this paper accordingly.

The colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were the first successful English colonies, and they influenced the future for America (Levy). Although the

In the Chesapeake region they would have longer and warmer growing seasons since they geographically are closer to the equator than New England, which had shorter and colder growing seasons. From the result of the growing season in Chesapeake, therefore they have a better opportunity to grow crops like tobacco to earn profits especially when they grew large farms of it. John Pory once again wrote, “Able to raise enough tobacco to earn 200 pounds… We have to pay all of our expenses.” (Document E2) The living was hard and they had to pay all their expenses which was easier because crops like these were a viable to grow. The New England region was different, casting short and mild growing seasons with harsh winters and had to rely more on fishing and hunting than crops for food and money. Economy was developed around trade and fur. Sandy, rocky soil made it hard for agriculture, but fortunately basic crops like corn were grown within these climates. (Venn Diagram) The lack of favorable rich soil made the cash crops like tobacco hard to be grown in this region which eventually made the fishing, hunting, and trading more appropriate. The source of profit was so important to them since the time was right they had people do this for them. “Slavery began (Picking Tobacco)” (Venn Diagram) They would have these favorable conditions and explode them by having the slaves do all the “dirty work” for

Jamestown presented more prospects to colonists than Massachusetts Bay Colony by allowing more than one religion, workers rights, and freedom of speech. Jamestown settlers had a bond from England guarantees the rights of settlers, as they would have had it in England. The Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony and they established a charter also. Both colonies had their have and have not in them. Massachusetts Bay Colony encourage the church greatly and Jamestown boost working over religion. The starting of a democracy, equality was from Jamestown.

The Puritans were a religious group that came to North America in search of religious freedom, and, in the process, greatly impacted the North American church, government, education, social mores, and economy. Many of the things that they implemented in the first colonies are still seen today in the social and governmental structures of the United States. Their beliefs and traditions are still practiced today and many social mores are still being adhered to, even now.

The colonies of Jamestown, Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay each were different by nature, goals, successes, and failures. There were numerous similarities as well as differences. However, each colony was looking for something better that was missing in their main land. Members of each colony had a vision of what they expected the New World to look like. When they arrived, they were given a sense of reality. Each colony had challenges that it would have to overcome to thrive as a new establishment in the New World. The three colonies succeeded at different levels in the New World.

With proprietary rights, Penn was allowed to create the constitution for the colony which he called, Frame of Government of Pennsylvania. This law code immediately stood out from the previous two because of the religious freedom that it allowed. As a Quaker who experienced persecution himself, Penn created an environment of religious toleration for people in the colony of Pennsylvania as long as they worshiped God. Rather than focusing on maintaining proper worship, Penn's law code was implemented to promote civic order and emphasize the rule of law to avoid the types of persecution that were being experienced in England. This is not to say that the laws did not involve religion at all. In fact, the preface to the laws clearly states that the laws are divinely inspired and that all power comes from God. Furthermore, Law thirty-four requires that all government officials, "shall be such as possess faith in Jesus Christ…" (Reader, p.44) In other words, to be an official in Pennsylvania, or to even vote for an official, one must be a professed Christian. This suggests that the laws will pertain to upholding Christian beliefs and obeying a covenant with God in order to avoid his wrath. A clear example of this can be seen in law 37 when it says, "the wildness and looseness of people provoke the indignation of God against a country." (Reader, p.45) So,

The three regional colonies which are New England, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies did not exactly merge by the outbreak of the revolution because of distinct ethnic grouping that existed in Americas at the time. Immigration to the Americas began in the seventeenth century with England being the primary source of immigration, however, it was not until the eighteenth century that thousands of people from continental Europe fled their homes to the new territory to avoid war and oppression. Once settled in America, the array of ethnic groups led to division between different colonies, more so between the three regional alignments which were New England, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies. The economic, political, and social subsistence of each colony was different and this contributed to the division that existed. New England capitalized on ship building and first-rate

Three major colonies set up by England were Jamestown, New England and Maryland. Although they had a few similarities, each colony had different goals and different ways in which they were set up in order to reach those goals. Jamestown was a major England colony. It was also a Royal Colony which meant that they were directly controlled by the English monarch. Their main goals were God, gold and glory.

New England was plagued with religious persecution at the hands of the Puritans. The Puritans believed that the English church needed to be purified and upon receiving persecution in Great Britain decided to move to New England. But in this new place, people were often kicked out of their Puritan communities for violating their code of conduct or questioning a religious leader. They would be left to fend for themselves in a place that they were unfamiliar with. A few lucky ones managed to survive and find new groups but the majority would die at the hands of starvation, the cold, or Indians.

The Colonists were practicing self government in the colonies because England their, mother country was 3,000 miles across the ocean and trying to control them. They were creating early democratic features, but many factors of colonial life were that they were still practicing undemocratic features of government. Individual or human rights, Equality, and free and fair regular elections were properties that colonist found looking for self government. During colonial America, democracy was a work in progress with democratic and undemocratic features.

Philadelphia was another city created with the intention of being a model city for the world, a city built by Quakers. There was no problem populating the Philadelphia, but it didn’t remain a purely Quaker city.