compare and contrast the english colonies of the Chesapeake with their counterparts at Massachusetts Bay. What were their similarities and differences?

These sites will provide you a lot of information for your compare and contrast paper.

http://www.answers.com/topic/chesapeake-colonies

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopic/Chesapeake-Colonies-Virginia-Maryland.topicArticleId-25073,articleId-25011.html

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopic/New-England-Colonies.topicArticleId-25073,articleId-25010.html

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h572.html

To compare and contrast the English colonies of the Chesapeake (specifically Virginia and Maryland) with their counterparts at Massachusetts Bay, we must examine their similarities and differences in terms of origins, economy, society, and religion. Here's how you can approach this comparison:

1. Origins:
First, look into the reasons why the colonies were established. The Chesapeake colonies were primarily founded for economic reasons, such as searching for gold and silver and establishing profitable plantations (specifically tobacco in Virginia). Massachusetts Bay, on the other hand, was founded as a religious refuge for Puritans seeking to establish a purer form of Christianity.

2. Economy:
Compare the economic activities and sources of prosperity in each region. The Chesapeake colonies were predominantly agrarian, relying on cash crops like tobacco, which required large labor forces, leading to the growth of indentured servitude and later slavery. Massachusetts Bay, while also engaged in agriculture, had a diversified economy that included fishing, shipbuilding, and trade.

3. Society:
Examine the social structure and demographics in each region. The Chesapeake colonies had a hierarchical society with a small planter elite and a large population of indentured servants and later enslaved Africans. Massachusetts Bay had a more homogeneous and socially cohesive society, with emphasis on community and involvement in local governance under the Puritan ideals.

4. Religion:
Contrast the religious practices and influence in each region. The Chesapeake colonies had a predominantly Anglican/Church of England presence, but religious diversity increased over time due to various Protestant denominations and Catholicism. In Massachusetts Bay, Puritanism was the dominant religion, and the colony was governed based on Puritan religious principles.

By comparing these aspects, you can further explore the similarities and differences between the Chesapeake colonies and Massachusetts Bay in terms of their origins, economy, society, and religion.