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DBQ-The English Colonies


            The immigrants who settled the New England and Chesapeake Bay regions were primarily English, however, the societies of these regions were distinctly different. These differentiations were caused by the diversity of the immigrants settling the regions, the fundamental purpose and goals of each region, and the types of government each colony set up.
             A passenger manifest from 1635 (C) indicates that passengers bound for Virginia were primarily composed of men. Few women were aboard the ship. Captain John Smith wrote (F) that the men aboard the ship were "gold seekers" who would talk of nothing but the riches they would find and the wealth they would obtain. However, another passenger manifest from 1635 (B) indicates that immigrants bound for New England were primarily tradesmen traveling with their families. The men to women ratio was almost one, indicating a need for a family-oriented community. This evidence reveals that each colony had a different idea on how to establish their communities. The Chesapeake region immigrants were mainly concerned with seeking gold, however, the New England colony felt that the family, not wealth and riches, was an important aspect of establishing a successful colony.
             The fundamental goals and purposes of each region varied extremely. In Governor Berkley's discussion on the inability to defend Virginia against a Dutch attack (G), he states that one third of the men in Virginia were single freemen. These men were not interested in defending the colony; they were only interested in needs for themselves, not for the entire colony. Berkley is declaring that he doesn't have any well-trained or determined men. This also refers back to John Smith's statements of the men's avarice and gold lust. The men in the colony didn't want to do any work except for looking for gold. Their main objective was to obtain wealth for themselves. In New England however, the region had establish a contract (D) that stated the goals and expectations of the colony.


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