England
Although Spain and Portugal appeared to be leaders of the exploration of the New World, it was clear that England was the most successful and its colonies the most profitable in the New World by the 17th century. England's reach extended to nearly all the land along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean apart from Florida, which had succeeded in staying in Spanish hands. English men, women, and those of youth left England in search for opportunity, a better means of which to live, and most importantly, wealth. If England had not been in a state of crisis at the time involving social inequality, population increase, and an environment in which the rich were becoming richer and the poor were growing poorer, not many would seek refuge in an unknown land. The fact that so many English were traveling to the New World was probably a perk for England's status as a world power due to the fact that the English became a majority in the Americas, and assigned themselves many more rights and privileges than they did to minorities. England would have surely become the most dominant nation in the world had it not been for the independent, and for England, the idealistic views of the settlers in the New World. When they entered into a New World, th
The Puritanical beliefs of the North were contrasted by the "Christian" religion of the South. These brawls are so disgustful, as some will say, they were better forgotten" (Document F), producing a rigid class structure and a disbelief in any sort of equality among people, especially not for the slave. The fact that families came to the New England colonies not only stressed religion, but also lay emphasis on education to achieve a better standing in life, more equality among commoners, and the nonuse of slaves (even though New England was a major port for the importation of African American men and women). Punishments for such acts as merely having too much fun were severe, and minorities were not considered to be equal with the white man, and so were often ignored if not hated. "And let us also consider whether any public work for our safety and defense or for the advancement and propagation of trade, liberal arts or sciences is in any [way] adequate to our vast charge" (Document H). However, beginning life anew in a completely different environment is a hard task. New England was a peaceful yet harsh society because of a religious influence, whereas the Chesapeake region was more centered on economic prosperity. Life in the South was dominated by diseases such as malaria, and quickly diminished much of the early population. The Jamestown settlement in Virginia saw many troubles in its early stages of development including a harsh climate, diseases, and the unavailability of food, "Our ordinary [food] was but meal and water so that this little relieved our wants," (Document F). Violence and unjust means were often used to get what one wanted done in the South, "Smith had the plot discovered to him. Although, it was a major feat for the colonists to have settled a land where they could pursue religious freedom, the New England colonies did have their share of immoral opinions.
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