Miss
Essay by 24 • December 6, 2010 • 558 Words (3 Pages) • 1,022 Views
Virginia and Massachusetts, two colonies in North America, had different ways of founding religion, form of government and land-holding patterns. After a time, Massachusetts was intended to be a holy commonwealth, full of religious folk bound together with God. Massachusetts' Puritans were Congregationalists, who wanted to form churches that only allowed those who demonstrate God's grace. They still wanted to form the Church of England so they were non-separating Congregationalists. Massachusetts was a place for persecuted Puritans. The Virginians were part of the Anglican Church, which is familiar to the Church of England, but only with a changed name. Pocahontas was baptized under the Anglican ways and her name changed to Lady Rebecca. Virginians came to America for profit and economy more than freedom of religion.
In Virginia, the colony was first set up by the London group of the Virginia Company, and John Smith self-promoted himself and was one of the leaders of the colony, until a proper governor-Lord De La Warr came in 1609. Later Sir Thomas Gates became governor and made "Dale's Code", which had severe rules on things such as stealing food and other disciplines. When the King ordered to have an investigation on the company, they disagreed to the strict laws, and had the company dissolved and then transformed into a royal colony, where there were annual assemblies with a governor, councilors, and burgesses. Large planters got a big say on the new laws. Later, trading regulations left many homeless and this was the friction that caused Bacon's Rebellion. In Massachusetts, Puritan merchants formed the New England Company which got a patent from England, but to be sure that it was legal; they turned to King Charles I who turned it into the Massachusetts Bay colony and gave a charter. Though it was mainly meant to be a business colony, John Winthrop wished it to be a refuge for Puritans, and took advantage of the charter by bringing it with them to Massachusetts instead of leaving it's home
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