The lifestyles of the Chesapeake and New England colonist
The lifestyles of the Chesapeake and New England colonists had few similarities. Both left from Europe destined for the New World, they sought religious freedom. Once here the colonies setup farms and cultivated the land. This is were there similarities ended. The Chesapeake settled in what is now Virginia and Maryland. They quickly established tobacco as their staple crop, thus becoming their main source of income. Rather then creating towns, the farmers spread out along the riverbanks. A good idea, the river was deep and rather wide. It provided dependable water transportation, since there were few roads. The farmers would build their own wharfs
These colonists were actually able to see their children marry, often picking and choosing who they could marry. And clearing lands requires heavy labor. They fenced in the crops to keep wild pigs and cattle form eating their food stock, and used manure to fertilize the crops rather then clear new land. The nearby Native American population was low from war and disease, and few African slaves available. The colonist didn't see their impending future. The cultivation of tobacco fields is back breaking work. In many cases families consisted of as many as 5 to 7 children. As more men came over the farms increased in size, creating a need for more workers. In the cases where farms were close by one another, farmers would share the wharfs. The colonists of New England also shared the work load. And even fewer still ever lived to be grandparents New England colonist on the other hand, had provisions and workers on hand. Seeing this more and more Puritan families migrated to New England allowing for a rich and diverse age group. Hindered by diseases from the more tropic like climate, many servants died.
Common topics in this essay:
Native American,
Virginia Maryland,
Seeing Puritan,
Chesapeake England,
indentured servants,
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families consisted,
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