Southern Colonies and the Search for Profit in VirginiaIn 1607, British colonists established the first colony at Jamestown on the coast of Virginia. The colony was funded by a joint-stock company called the Virginia Company. The company became the proprietor of the colony. This meant that the British king gave the Virginia Company the rights to operate in this territory. The colonists faced many hardships, from starvation to diseases like malaria. By 1616, roughly 80 percent of the colonists had died.The Virginia Company tried to encourage more British settlement, create a better food supply, and find something that could earn a profit. In 1618, the company began to give 50-acre land grants to anyone who would pay for their (or someone else’s) journey to Virginia. At this time, the company established the first tobacco plantations. Tobacco was a cash crop that earned the colonial leaders a great profit.To work these plantations, the colonial leaders brought indentured servants from England. Roughly two-thirds of English settlers who came to Virginia in the seventeenth century were indentured servants. The indentured servants died at a high rate, due to diseases and harsh conditions. Virginia's colonial leaders needed more people to work on the plantations. In 1619, a group of 20 enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia to work on these plantations.Also in 1619, colonial leaders established the House of Burgesses. This was the first elected assembly in what is now the U.S. However, it was not a true democracy because votes were given only to landowners. In addition, the company could cancel any vote results if it wanted.In 1624, following a series of failures by the Virginia Company, the British king transformed Virginia into the first royal colony. The king was not interested in becoming involved in this colony. As a result, political and economic power shifted from the company to local Virginia elites. This meant that power was held by owners of enslaved people.Maryland was developed in a similar way, but on a smaller scale. It was a proprietor colony, meaning that the English king gave one person the rights to this land. The politics of both Virginia and Maryland were heavily influenced by a small aristocracy. In both cases, an elite few held great power over a larger number of indentured and enslaved laborers.A Plantation Colony in South CarolinaSouth Carolina was established later, in 1663. The English king awarded South Carolina's territory to eight proprietors. Early on, the colony was seen as an extension of the wealthiest British colony in the Caribbean—Barbados. Plantation owners decided that there was not enough land in Barbados. They looked to South Carolina for more land to set up new plantations. Like Virginia’s aristocracy, South Carolina's aristocracy had great power. But, unlike Virginia, South Carolina did not have an elected assembly.

Question

New England and the Role of Religious Devotion in MassachusettsReligion played a large role in the settlement of New England. Plymouth Colony was established in 1620, by a group of English settlers. Some of these settlers were Separatists. This was a religious group that wanted to create a separate Christian church apart from the English king. At that time, the English king was head of the Christian church in England.Before they got off the Mayflower ship, the group created the Mayflower Compact. This was a written document that stated their colony would be based on majority rule. While fairly basic, it’s considered the first written constitution that outlined the powers and duties of a government in today's U.S. This foundation of self-government would influence the later American government system. Plymouth was later absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.Another group looking for greater religious freedom, the Puritans, established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629. They built their colony not far from Plymouth. John Winthrop was the first governor of the colony. He hoped it would be a "city upon a hill." In other words, he wanted the colony to be a model of a pure and proper Christian society. Colonists could vote for certain representatives in yearly elections.Not Fully DemocraticUnlike the Southern colonies, these New England colonies had a strong link between church and state. This was because their founders were highly concerned with religious practices. Both Virginia and Massachusetts are known for establishing early forms of self-government. However, it is important to note that none of these colonies can be considered a true democracy. Only male property owners could vote. Men without property, women, and enslaved people could not vote. This meant that the majority of people could not participate in government. This was a similarity between the politics of both the Southern and New England colonies.

Middle Colonies and the Establishment of an Aristocracy in New YorkIn 1664, during a war with the Dutch, the British claimed a Dutch territory called New Netherland. The English king gave this territory to his brother, the Duke of York. Large pieces of land were given to certain men who were favorites of the Duke of York. Most of New York's land was owned by five families by 1700.In 1683, the Duke of York responded to colonists' desire for more self-government by establishing an elected assembly. The assembly created a charter with rights, linked to rights of men in England. Elections would be held every three years. Like in the New England colonies, the right to vote was granted only to property-holding men.Tolerance in PennsylvaniaThe final English colony established was Pennsylvania in 1681. The proprietor was named William Penn. Penn was a Quaker, a type of Christian belief that emphasized equality. Quakers were facing persecution at this time. Because of this, Penn wanted to make Pennsylvania a welcoming, tolerant home to all, not just Quakers. He also helped Quakers purchase territory in New Jersey.Penn's religious beliefs influenced the political system of Pennsylvania, which had greater voting rights than in any other colony. Voters would elect an assembly, and Penn would choose members of a council that would create the colony's laws. Religious freedom was also a defining feature of Pennsylvania.Middle Colonies: Middle GroundThe dominance of an elite few in New York more closely resembled the situation in the Southern colonies. On the other hand, the religious foundations of Pennsylvania were more similar to those of the New England colonies. However, Pennsylvania was more tolerant of diverse religions than the New England colonies were. The politics of each colony were shaped by their distinct origins.

Which of the following accurately compares the politics of the three British colonial regions?(1 point)ResponsesThe Middle colonies were unique because of the great amount of power held there by an elite few, which was in contrast to the more equal distribution of power seen in the New England and Southern colonies.The Middle colonies were unique because of the great amount of power held there by an elite few, which was in contrast to the more equal distribution of power seen in the New England and Southern colonies.The New England colonies established a greater degree of political participation than the Southern colonies, while the Middle colonies represented a mix of politics.The New England colonies established a greater degree of political participation than the Southern colonies, while the Middle colonies represented a mix of politics.The New England colonies established universal voting for all people, while in the Middle and Southern colonies, only property-holding men could vote.The New England colonies established universal voting for all people, while in the Middle and Southern colonies, only property-holding men could vote.The Southern colonies established a greater degree of political participation than the New England colonies, while the Middle colonies represented a mix of politics.The Southern colonies established a greater degree of political participation than the New England colonies, while the Middle colonies represented a mix of politics.

Answer 1

The most accurate statement comparing the politics of the three British colonial regions is:

The New England colonies established a greater degree of political participation than the Southern colonies, while the Middle colonies represented a mix of politics.

This statement is correct because the New England colonies, especially with the establishment of the Mayflower Compact and the participation of town meetings, provided some level of self-government and political participation, though still limited to property-holding men. In contrast, political participation in the Southern colonies was more heavily concentrated among the elite landowners. The Middle colonies, like New York and Pennsylvania, displayed a mix of political structures, with varying degrees of elite control and some attempts at democratic representation, particularly in Pennsylvania under William Penn.