When someone first thinks of the colonial history of the United States of America they are likely to think of New England. Most people do not know about the other major area the country that was just as important as New England, the Chesapeake. The two areas were very different due to many factor including propose of the settlement, the environment of the region, and presence (or lack) women. These to areas of the New World were different from the on set and grew farther apart as the nation moved toward independence.
In 1607 a group of merchants established England's first permanent colony in North America at Jamestown, Virginia. They operated as a joint-stock company that allowed them to sell shares of stock in their company and use the pooled investment capital to outfit and supply overseas expeditions. This joint stock company operated under a charter from James I with a concern for bringing Christian religion to the native people.
Chesapeake Executive Council Annual Meeting
Chesapeake Executive Council Annual Meeting
Chesapeake Executive Council Annual MeetingHowever, most of the settlers in the Chesapeake were not in the colony for God, they were there for the other G of colonialism, gold. Their real aim was profit rather than religion. The type of people that arrived in the new land can account for this. They were not high minded or highly educated. In fact many were criminals. The society was not a tightly knit unit or one over concerned with lives of other.
Profits were elusive in the early years; expectations of gold and other minerals, trade with Indians for beaver and deerskins were not to be had by the colonists. To make matters worse was the fact that the whole colony had been built on a swamp. In this environment disease was rampant and took a heavy toll. Many Virginia colonists died of dysentery,