The Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is a 200-mile-long estuary extending from Norfolk, VA to Havre de grace Maryland. On average this bay contains about 68 trillion liters of water. This bay is the largest estuary in North America. It inhabits more than 3,000 species of plants, animals, and fish. “Since the early twentieth century, the Chesapeake Bay has experienced serious environmental degradation. Problems include large reductions in sea grass, reduced amounts of finfish and shellfish (especially oysters and crab), seasonal depletions in dissolved oxygen, and increases in sedimentation.” (Atkins & Anderson, 2003) These changes are brought on by pollution (Eutrophication and Toxic Contamination), development, deforestation, and agriculture. And according

Scientists and researchers began giving a large volume of effort and look into the extremely complex problems that face the Chesapeake Bay. When research for the improving and saving of the Bay’s overall health began it seemed very simple and there were only a couple of problems. The problems included nutrients from agricultural runoff; these nutrients were phosphorus and nitrogen. The combination of the nutrients in the Bay caused a large volume of algae that choked some of the marine life. While bringing in algae the nutrients also killed grasses on the seafloor. These seafloor bed grasses that once covered more than half of the Chesapeake Bay’s floor now only covered a tenth of their original area. Though the estuary was having problems it did not receive the terrible pollution from industries that many large rivers and lakes do in other urban areas (Brown, p. 397).

The Chesapeake Bay and the New England colonies displayed many differences. The major differences became very clear as the settlements continued

Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. The reasons for this distinct development were mostly based on the type on people from England who chose to settle in the two areas, and on the manner in which the areas were settled.

In the early seventeenth century, the English began to establish colonies in the New World. The colonies in New England consisted of New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. While, the colonies making up the Chesapeake region were Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Given that the New England and Chesapeake region were both largely settled by those of English origin, by the 1700 they had evolved into two distinct societies because of the contrast in their geographical locations, their political structure, and their social hierarchy.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. About half of the Bay’s water volume comes from salt water from the Atlantic Ocean. The other half drains into the Bay from its enormous 64,000-square-mile watershed. Estuaries are among the most productive environments on earth, creating more organic matter each year than similarly-sized forests and agricultural areas. Estuaries also provide diverse habitats for wildlife and aquatic life, protect our communities against flooding, reduce pollution of waterways, and support local economies through commercial and recreational activities. Thousands of species

On March 3rd, 1813, the first British ships of war appeared on the Chesapeake Bay. For two years the Chesapeake would be the scene of numerous amounts of battles. Some would be lost in anonymity, but others would make history. But first, why did the British come? We were at war almost thirty years before, so how did it come upon these two superpower nations to collide once again? A few answers to these questions will put the war of 1812 and the Battle of the Chesapeake Bay in its proper context.

In the 1700s, the New England and Chesapeake regions were settled mostly by people from similar English origin; however, by the 18th century, both developed into two distinct societies. This was due to the different reasons for founding, different societal ideas and expectations, and the vastly different economies that were set up because of the climate.

The Chesapeake was shaped economically by tobacco, Bacons rebellion, by John Smith. The tobacco dominated in this particular region since 1618 it was very profitable and people grew it best on leveled grounds with 80% of Chesapeake homes laying ½ of a riverbank and most 600 feet of the shoreline, bottom line is tobacco was their destiny it was their money for food and other essentials. This shaped Chesapeake since it made up pretty much its entire economy so when tobacco falls, the world falls for them. The Bacon's Rebellion was a popular revolt in colonial Virginia in 1676, led by Nathaniel Bacon because of high taxes, low prices for tobacco, Sir William Berkeley the governor, provided the background for the uprising, which was precipitated by Berkeley's failure to defend the frontier against attacks by Native Americans. This shaped the region since we gained land, furs, and harvest. John smith was young, 28, but had experience fighting Turks and Spanish, and had enough experience to assume control in Virginia, he organized work bands, and ensured sufficient food and shelter for winter; he also became the colony's best Indian negotiator, and when he was captured by Indians in late 1607, he showed bravery and courage, and the chief's daughter, Pocahontas saved Smith's life. This shaped Chesapeake since he provided help for the colony and when he left for England the colonies went on a

Today, the Chesapeake Bay colony area is home to the United States capital, with the ma-

Eutrophication is a concern in the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication is caused by excessive amounts of nutrients. Excessive nutrients in the bay have negative effects on the bay's ecosystem. The extra nutrients make the environment unbalanced. The extra nutrients cause a chain reaction that eventually kills most of the organisms in that area. This is what is known as a dead zone.

Throughout the early 1600s and late 1700s, many left their home countries in Europe to colonize the New World. Most notably were English pilgrims who sailed the Atlantic in large numbers and settled two major regions along the Eastern coast of North America. These regions soon became known as New England and the Chesapeake Bay areas. Though both were established predominantly by the English, both regions had their own and unique identities. These identities were established through regional economic motives, population differences and religious intensities.

An estuary system is “the resulting collisions of sweet and salt-fresh river water flowing seaward and ocean water inland.” It is an aquatic system where salt and freshwater are constantly mixing. An estuary system is one of most active systems of the planet; it is a hybrid system that contains the best and worst qualities of the ocean, river, and lake systems it conglomerates. Estuaries are unique in nature because of their ability to be the most productive ecosystem on the entire planet; humans have attempted and failed to reach the productivity that estuaries naturally grant. There productivity lies it the constant change that occurs from the conflicting flows of fresh and ocean water. Ocean and freshwater are measured largely based on salinity, or the level of parts of salt per thousand. Ocean water usually

The Chesapeake had nothing like the New England Confede ration 1643 – when the time to defend against the d utch, there were two too few individuals over spread ove r too much land for made defense and unity especial ly difficult (Doc G). Also conflicting interest – if the Dutch paid more, there was no group loyalty to a community hold a person back. By New England was the most unified of the two colo nies by 1700 – a strong religious background held them together, the people shared common ideals. Th e diversity of the Chesapeake society was striking, fed by immigration from a variety of countries (Not just E ngland), and their which contributed to their tolle ration of different religions and

Indentured servants where men and women who signed a contract to work for a certain number of years, usually between four and seven, in exchange for transportation to the colonies. The Chesapeake Bay colonies, Virginia and Maryland, where especially condition to use indentured servants. During this essay I will explain why the Chesapeake Bay colonies were in such need of the servants and why eventually they turned to slavery to fill the void left by the indentured servants.