A History of the American People
A History of the American People covers the common turning points that contributed to the expansion of the American nation. This text captures the stories of various cultures, each of which contributes to the history of the United States.
Timeline:
The timeline covers the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional War, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and World War II. Each society was faced with the responsibility of forging a new union, and the great test was the possibility of creating a nation while retaining its indigenous roots.
Early English Settlers
The early 1600s were largely characterized by English settlers in America. People of English origin majorly inhabited the New England and Chesapeake region in the South. There were however great differences among the groups that moved in this area. The source of the differences could be traced back to England's vast domestic concerns. For instance, the Church of England had its roots in America in the 1530s advocated for conformity and compliance with its practices. On the contrary, the Puritans pushed for entirely different and superior reforms.
Development of New England and Chesapeake
The community vignettes from New England and Chesapeake had their differences growing, and this led to a division in the English clusters that settled in South of America. By 1700, the regions developed into two diverse societies with distinct developments in their economic and political structures (Faragher, 2016).
Growth and Development of Chesapeake Colonies
Growth in Chesapeake colonies was fostered by the unique geographical design of the location and the needs and values of the people. This essay, therefore, addresses the successful colonial efforts by the English towards the growth and development of Chesapeake colonies, Virginia and Maryland. More scrutiny is paid to the development that took a course in religion in effect leading to its success. This paper also addresses the territorial expansion exhibited by Chesapeake colonies.
Slow Development and Tobacco Production
The development progress exhibited in Maryland and Virginia was by and large slow. This was an account of the years 1607 to 1630 in comparison to the neighboring societies. The unique geographical makeup of the region needed more time to figure out before setting along the path to success. Despite the region having low-lying tide waters which presented a malignant disease environment, there were healthier sections within the region therefore which served the population better.
The importation of slaves directly from Africa boosted the population, therefore, making up for the preliminary mortality of the inhabitants (Faragher, 2016). The increased population was a direct impact on the economy of the region. Maryland was predominantly rural settlements for the servants of the Catholic gentlemen.
Like its neighbor Virginia, it quickly prospered owing to the primary source of revenue and currency being tobacco production; the population increase worked in favor of the production. Plantations of tobacco were set along the waterways of Maryland and Virginia which made the transportation of the raw materials to their destinations easy. Access to the plantations was also not limited to land only but made available via water.
Local Government and Success
The local government in the region maintained the county seat due to the presence the courthouse, an Anglican Church, a hostelry, a realm store, and plenty of homes. The church government and the militia maintained a degree of nobleness as per their service obliged. The success of Chesapeake region slowly grew as the area took up little urban developments. The population was considerably controlled due to the high mortality rate from diseases. This therefore tamed overpopulation in the region resulting in balance regarding the economy. There were also setbacks to the success of the region. In 1660 to early 1700, Chesapeake experienced a great economic depression due to the fluctuation in tobacco prices (Faragher, 2016). This, therefore, resulted in war and rebellions among the colonists and the local Indians. Lives were lost, and the Indians who survived the revolution were sent away.
Further Divisions and Joint Efforts
Further divisions were experienced as Chesapeake region developed. The differences came up, especially when different groups had different approaches to settle a dispute. This, however, did not come in between the joint efforts put in by Maryland and Virginia towards success. The two colonies worked together to the greater development of their region.
Reference
Faragher, John Mack. (2016). Out of Many: A History of the American People, Volume 1, 8/E. Prentice Hall.
