13 Colonies - Essay

The environment and atmosphere of the first colonies to settle in the new world was widely dissimilar, and some found success while others suffered harsh conditions. Virginia as labeled by Captain John Smith would fall into the last category. The colony of Jamestown came to the New World seeking land, assets and commerce, and settled in a coastal area, which did not provide the freshest water and proved to be abundant with disease. Jamestown was the first English settlement in America (1607). It had a stiff time at first and did not thrive until the colonists received their own land and the tobacco industry began flourishing due to Mr. Rolfe, the settlement took root. People continued to arrive and new settlements arose. As we can see with the article entitled “The Starving Times,” Jamestown suffered significantly when John Smith, their greatest capable leader, returned to England. Smith even records that he heard of a wife being murdered and cannibalized because of lack of food. This colony did eventually find some strength when it began to harvest tobacco, rice and indigo. Lord Baltimore received land from King Charles I to create a sanctuary for Catholics. His son, the second Lord Baltimore, personally possessed all the land and could use or sell it as he wished. In 1649, the Toleration Act was approved allowing all Christians to worship as they pleased. Maryland seemed to find more success in the New World thanks to its harvesting of tobacco, furs and flesh. Adjudicating by what is read in Alsop’s article, Maryland is described as a active trade community. Although this colony suffered its own troubles such as “The Plundering Times,” and civil war due to change of religion.
The most fruitful of the colonies was the Puritan settlement in Massachusetts. As we comprehend in the article by John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity,” the intentions for this colony was substantial from the others in the New World. Though the Laws of Virginia displays they honor God, Winthrop shows firm trust on God for their success. A passage from John says to “Don’t worry about anything. I know it may be hard time you’re going through. God sees your struggles. God knows what you’re going through. God sees your situation. Never lose your trust in God. You can have the peace of knowing that you have a place in heaven. But abundant life on earth is also what Jesus died for! Don’t lose the faith! Don’t lose your trust! God will take care of you. .” (John.14-1) There were other factors which helped in the Puritans success such as having established family tradition, religion, structure , and an environment which did not have much disease as other colonies. John Winthrop was the most important piece starting the Great Migration once he became governor and started formulating a great plan for the Puritans to come to America. The first settlement as we know it is Charlestown, SC but because of impoverished conditions and water moved up to Boston and the Massachusetts Bay Colony was born! The article below will give more detail on the boom and decline of the Great Migration colonies and how important the Massachusetts Bay Colony was to the Puritans!