Massachusetts Bay Virginia Massachusetts Bay

Massachusetts Bay Virginia

Massachusetts Bay and you -- Perfect (or, as perfect as one can be on this godless earth) Together"

The English Colonist Monthly

At first, it seems tempting -- the warm weather of Virginia, the apparently less Puritanical colonists, living the easy life on plantations that are toiled for you -- versus the snowy Massachusetts weather and the chillier personal ambiance in towns of trades people. But in terms of the potential for real and longstanding economic advancement, the more democratic and relatively religiously tolerant Massachusetts Bay Colony, versus the aristocratic plantation economies of the Southern sphere makes Massachusetts the better choice for relocation. It is also, in terms of native encroachments, far safer.

Since the founding, the Massachusetts Bay Colony has been flourishing. Although "emigration to New England was at first encouraged by the king and his servile ministry, doubtless with a view of getting rid of the men who could not rest under the proceedings of an arbitrary government," according to one settler, this proved to be a spur to democratic religious enfranchisement. This new settlement was founded for religious liberty, not for tyranny and the colonial enrichment of an arbitrary absolute monarchy. Even though not all religious opinions are perfectly tolerated -- where are they anywhere in this year of 1680 -- the equality of the faith, without many powerful bishops and clergy, creates a democratic environment regarding salvation. The deterministic faith preaches that only God can know and chose who is saved, (Norris, 1988)

Economically, the colony is increasing in numbers, a statistic that marks a healthy colony. The population has doubled approximately every 28 years. In a few short years, this industrious and hearty group of pioneers had established a successful and thriving colony in the New World.

Also, the democratic and religiously open environment fosters political democracy. "The concepts of freedom of religion and expression and congregationalism and salvation and the related Calvinism movement" stresses an open exchange of opinions, regarding at least worldly affairs, as all humans have imperfect knowledge, even kings, before God. (Taylor, 1998) Because of the colonist's passionate commitment to the necessity of reformation immediate and without compromise, they emphasize individual righteousness before God. (Logan, 1996)

What unites the Massachusetts Bay is the knowledge that, as children of the Reformation, they know that salvation was by grace alone and through faith alone in Christ alone. Even relations with natives have improved through such a tolerant attitude. Some natives have even been incorporated into community life and the colonists have learned from the tribe's agricultural labor. (O'Brien 149)

In contrast, Virginia does not have a good economic "track record' -- first it is highly economically stratified, because of its agrarian economy that replicates the worst feature of Europe. It is dependant, not upon a variety of trades and a diverse economy, but a highly imbalanced 'cash crop' system. Secondly, in terms of Native-White relations it is much more dangerous. The second European settlement (after the Spanish at St. Augustine, Florida) in the America's was at Roanoke in 1585. The first settlement was a disaster and all returned to England. The second settlement in 1587 disappeared. (Taylor, 1998)

Religiously, the South remains dominated by English ways and hierarchies. There is no democratic debate about the faith, even to expunge sinners from the fold. Politically, only men with land dominate the legislatures. And in terms of Native relations, the disappearance of previous colonies speaks for itself. Disease also weakens the bodies of the colonists, making them more open to Native attacks.

The inequality of relations between fellow colonists is further underlined by the treatment of Black slaves in the colony. Since its inception, slave laws reflect the racism of the colony, stressing the deliberate separation of blacks and whites. Even Christian slaves are not called Christian, (another defamation of the religious attitudes of Virginia) as one 1680 law has a prescription of thirty lashes on the bare back "if any Negroes or other slave shall presume to lift up his hand against any Christian."

There is also a separate legal code providing distinct trial procedures and harsher punishments for Negroes, which speaks ill of its political opportunities as well. (the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2005)