The Development of the Colonist of Virginia, the Puritans of Massachusetts - Essay Example

Philosophy 8 October Compare and contrast the development of the colonist of Virginia, the Puritans of Massachusetts, and the Native Americans of the Eastern Woodland Indian societies from about 1607 to about 1730 The difference in governance: Before the settlers of Virginia came in from England, the American natives of the Indian societies had been well distributed, living on the American soils. The English men had emigrated from their land due to their religious indifferences that had caused a commotion in Europe. This group, the puritans had a mission to cleanse the church beginning with the freedom of religious beliefs. They had requested for a church reform early in 16th century which the English authority and the powerful Catholic faith leadership had refuted. Following that was persecution of the confessed puritans which led to their migration in escape of death. Back home in England, the church had big influence on the on people way of life and the diplomatic matters towards governance. So, when they settled in, they aggressively practiced their faith regardless of the say of the welcoming Indian inhabitants. The churches were started in New England, spread all through to Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire among others. The church leaders and the ministers were selected based on electorate method by all. “American Puritans could form churches with their owner will, in which they chose priest by themselves and they managed by themselves. There was no rigid hierarchy in church.” (“Review of European,” 150). The puritans had long desired to rule themselves and with time, the church popular concept based on their democratic free will spread across to other settlers; which led to the embrace of democracy in America today. The Indian Americans, for a long time had a different social structure of leadership more embraced on monarchy. A chief leader referred to as ‘sagamore’, directed the Indian people in various tribes, enforcing governance from within. If there was no son or the son was not old enough, then the widow was allowed to rule. “The right to rule (power and respect) came primarily from inheritance although some significant accomplishment or assertiveness by a warrior, for example, could qualify him to be a sagamore.” (“Narrative: Three Indian,”). This was arbitrary ignored by the white settler whose influential religious believes had sunk deep in Massachusetts. The puritans came in with the structured electoral rule while the Indians were ruled under monarchial system. Differences in cultures: The puritans’ women played no role in church and governance. All the important decisions were made by the clergy who were singly men. They had made their religious faith their culture and every action they deed had a supportive reason rooted in their faith. In the mid 16th century after the Europeans had settled they opened schools and colleges so as to promote education for every individual. Their strong motive was to enable everyone read the Bible as a plot to raise and ensure growth in Christianity. Puritans strictly followed the Bible doctrines and were keen to every little social detail. They marked the Bible as the peak book that contains right guide that can free a man from the trouble of sin that he entered in. They instilled education in schools and colleges something that the woodland Indian communities never implied to. A review of the European study reveals that “Puritans formed the first formal school in1635, which was called the Roxbury Latin School. Four years later, in 1639, the first American College –Harvard College was established.” ( 151). All this would later enforce Christianity and civilization; a literate population in the North. The American Indians instead lived in assembled families in dispersed villages and at times would meet for festivals at different season. It was a tribe who practiced fishing, hunting and gathering. Women would gather while men hunt wild animals for food and fur for trading. Native people lived in unity and believed in nature and its law. They led a nomads’ life and had no permanent homes due the changes in climate: the summer season and winter season. The seasons’ activities were told by the melting of the ice stones and snow. The women in the American native Indian society were involved in leadership, governing villages and giving authoritative directions to the people. Sachem, a classified individual of a ruler, either male or female sat together with other leaders from a community so as to discuss and evaluate the pros and cons of an event before declaring a rule; a complete contrast with the puritans women rights. Similarity in Economic development: the eastern woodland Indian societies practiced farming besides other activities. It is told that the women planted corns, beans and squash which were well favored by the warm moist climate in the region. Archeological records suggest that they built there stores for the farm produce on higher grounds. The harvest was always intense which lead to population increase of the American natives in early 16th century. However, this was later disrupted by the civil wars and disease attack following the white man settlements. The Indians also engaged in trade on the shore of the great river Mississippi that was used as a medium of transportation. They traded some of their surplus, pottery and basketry artifacts and the prestigious collected shells from the winter fishing grounds. On the other hand, not only did the puritans engage in trade with the Indians but they fostered education in the illiterate population. This brought about civilization in northern America than anywhere else in the world. The puritan settlers purchased lands in bulks and practiced farming in wide plantations after the war in 1644. They planted maize, wheat, variety of fruits and eventually tobacco as a cash crop. Puritans too were ocean sailors on pursuit of their exploration and transportation means. This was a step to increase employment from their prior jobless state and gain influential power due to the following financial stability. “These wealthy land owners were characterized by their large plantations (and thus their need for labor to work the fields). It was from this upper class that the members of the governing body - the House of Burgesses were chosen.” ( “Colonial life”). This is perhaps, the reason behind African slavery to work for the American white settlers. In the quest for power and dominance, both the American Native and the puritans from England suffered a tragic incident following disease outbreaks. It is argued that that the Indian natives were sexually irresponsible hence spreading syphilis to the puritan. Cholera and small pox associated with puritans’ overcrowded movement also spread in the Indian native population. The contact of these diseases generally caused death in both societies leading to potential political differences on those left afterwards. Works Cited Colonial life in Virginia. n.p., n.d. Web. 10 October. 2012. < http://www.geocities.com/djyancey/colonial.htm> “Narrative: Three Indian Landscape- Pre-History: Focus Point-1.” Native American Deeds. n.d. Web. 7 October. 2012. “Review of European Studies.” Rev. of European Studies by Ning Kang. Puritanism and Its Impact upon American Values. December 2009: 150, 151. Print. Read More