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Compare the religion, government, and landholding patterns of Virginia and Massachusetts. Why did New England settlers live longer?
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Virginia and Massachusetts differed significantly in religion, government, and landholding. Virginia, founded in 1607, was Anglican and focused on cash crops like tobacco, using indentured servants and slaves. Its government was led by a colonial governor with property-based political participation. Massachusetts, established in 1620 by Calvinist Pilgrims, centered on religion, with democratic town meetings and self-sufficient farms. New England settlers lived longer due to a healthier climate, avoiding mosquito-borne diseases prevalent in Virginia.
The colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts were quite different. The Virginia colony was established in 1607 by English gentlemen looking to strike it rich in the New World and then leave. While religion was not their primary focus, they were Anglican, and they supported the Church of England. Once family groups established themselves in the colony, they established Anglican churches. Since there was no gold to be had in the area, the settlers of the region looked to cash crops in order to make their money. Tobacco proved to be the main cash crop and, since tobacco takes a significant toll on soil nutrients, the Virginia planters needed large plantations in order to grow enough tobacco consistently. The planters used indentured servants and eventually slaves to work the fields. In terms of government, Virginia was ruled by a colonial governor, and there were high property requirements for one to be...
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engaged in the political life of the colony.
The Massachusetts colony was established in 1620 with the arrival of the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims left England due to their disagreement with the Anglican Church. These Pilgrims were Calvinists. They believed that God had chosen people to go to Heaven as "the elect." One proved one's membership of this select group by being successful here on Earth. The idea was that God showed his favor to the elect by making them successful in life. The Pilgrims came as family units. They established meeting houses first for their governmental and religious needs. Life centered around the town meeting and the Church. Only church members could vote. The town meeting was quite democratic, and, although a royal governor was technically in charge of the colony in the late 1600s, most business was carried out at the local level in the town meetings. Massachusetts colonists lived on self-sufficient farms that were worked by the entire family, and they also worked in maritime trades such as shipping, whaling, and fishing. These were often more lucrative than farming due to the short New England growing season. Since many who came to the colony were tradesmen, members of this colony were also known for their carpentry skills and creating other finished products.
Life expectancy was higher in New England than it was in Virginia due to climate. The initial settlers of Jamestown made the poor choice of settling near stagnant water, which proved to be a breeding place for mosquitoes. Many of these settlers died due to yellow fever and malaria. The mosquito-borne diseases killed thousands in Virginia. When the settlers realized that slaves from Africa did not catch the diseases as readily as whites, plantation owners' demand for slaves skyrocketed.