Describe the difference(s) between the English settlements in the Chesapeake region and those in the New England region.

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Answer 1

The settlements were different in several ways.

1) Economic Structure. The soil in the Chesapeake was very hospitable to growing tobacco, a heavily exported cash crop. Tobacco was grown on large farms and plantations that required large pools of labor. Labor was initially provided by indentured servants (slaves later provided this labor). In New England the soil was rocky, farming more difficult, and the size of farms small. This forced colonists to explore other, non-farm related, industries such as timber, fishing and whaling, and rum distilling. This ultimately resulted in a more diversified economy in New England.

2) Health. While the environment in the Chesapeake was ideal for growing tobacco, it was not hospitable to human life. The region was swampy and lacked clean water. As a result, typhoid fever, malaria, and dysentery were commonplace. This made the average lifespan in the Chesapeake much shorter than the average lifespan in New England (40 versus 70 years).

3) Family and Social Structure. The Chesapeake was initially settled by gentlemen from the upper class interested in making making. New England, on the other hand, was settled by middle class families for religious purposes. As a result, in the Chesapeake large numbers of indentured servants, who were predominantly white and male, were required for labor. This, coupled with the short life span, resulted in large numbers of bachelors, women widowed at an early age, high infant mortality rates, and an overall weakened family structure. In contrast, New England families were large – women often had 10 or more children – relatively healthy, and deeply rooted in the religious life of the communities in which they lived.