Founded with a similar intent of purpose of imperial expansion and eventually becoming part of the same nation, the colonies of Virginia and Maryland are in many ways far more different than alike. Their places within the time line of colonial sentiment, dissimilar governments, and different financial goals made for two distinct colonies.
Virginia stands as the first colony in what is now the United States. As the first, the original colonists had neither the understanding of their new region, experience, or realistic expectations to realize their original intentions. Following the paths etched across South and Central America by Spanish explorers such as de Soto (Virginia, 1904), the original Virginia colonists and the chartered companies who oversaw their exodus saw gold in their future. However, survival proved to be the more pressing matter as the men who came to settle in Jamestown in 1607 found themselves starving as winter set in. Only through being able to trade with the local Native American tribes were any of the colonists able to survive. As Henry Elson notes in his 1904 history of the United States, It would be difficult to imagine a set of men less fitted to build a colony and found a nation than were those who settled at Jamestown in 1607. Among them were but twelve laborers, a few carpenters, a blacksmith, a mason, a barber, and a tailor, while more than fifty were gentlemen . These were not farmers or outdoorsmen, left to the wilderness alone many would not survive their first year. This type of activity would help to define the early years of the settlement because while it would flourish, the downturn as in 1610 when the remaining settlers all but abandoned the colony.
Governmentally, while Jamestown and other Virginia settlements were overseen by charter companies the power behind these companies in England saw a rise and fall between different factions of parliament. Disinterest in the colony from those back in England, due to the lack of gold evident in the region caused the colony to experience periods of tyrannical local government and stunted growth (Virginia, 1904). Despite these developments, by 1619 the colony had a growth in families with wives finally coming to join their husbands. As the population grew, so too did the Puritan elements in Parliament who were able to have the Virginia companys charter revoked and Virginia became a royal colony in 1624.
Following after Virginia, the settlers of Maryland had the benefit of the Jamestown experience to influence their own growth. Within less than a year, the 300 colonists in Maryland saw growth that excelled that of Virginias for its first few years (Maryland, 1904).
Different from Virginia in many ways, chief among these differences is the founding of the colony. While Virginia was founded by a charter company, became the first permanent proprietary government in America (Maryland, 1904). Unlike Virgina, it was a lord proprietor government run by one man through a royal charter. It acts as a kind of mini kingdom. As Elson notes, it was an attempt to introduce a limited feudalism on American soil (Maryland, 1904).
Despite this foundation in a monarchy type of government, notions of democracy found a strong foothold in the early years. Virginia, to the contrary, though showing evidence of freedom minded individuals was at least semi-royalist with many pro-monarchy governors. Owing to its founding my Lord Baltimore, a Catholic, Maryland also experienced a religious tolerance not found in Virgina (1904). As a subject to a Protestant monarch, Baltimore was equally accepting of Protestants as those of his own faith (1904).
Though different in many respects, the colonies acted as complimentary neighbors in some respects. Politically, religiously, and financially the goals of the colonies were different but were able to support a wide array of interests. Each, in the end, fell and struggled under the interests of a monarchy thousands of miles away. Their eventual ideological and finally governmental unity is a tribute to both colonys early settlers and their independence.
Virginia stands as the first colony in what is now the United States. As the first, the original colonists had neither the understanding of their new region, experience, or realistic expectations to realize their original intentions. Following the paths etched across South and Central America by Spanish explorers such as de Soto (Virginia, 1904), the original Virginia colonists and the chartered companies who oversaw their exodus saw gold in their future. However, survival proved to be the more pressing matter as the men who came to settle in Jamestown in 1607 found themselves starving as winter set in. Only through being able to trade with the local Native American tribes were any of the colonists able to survive. As Henry Elson notes in his 1904 history of the United States, It would be difficult to imagine a set of men less fitted to build a colony and found a nation than were those who settled at Jamestown in 1607. Among them were but twelve laborers, a few carpenters, a blacksmith, a mason, a barber, and a tailor, while more than fifty were gentlemen . These were not farmers or outdoorsmen, left to the wilderness alone many would not survive their first year. This type of activity would help to define the early years of the settlement because while it would flourish, the downturn as in 1610 when the remaining settlers all but abandoned the colony.
Governmentally, while Jamestown and other Virginia settlements were overseen by charter companies the power behind these companies in England saw a rise and fall between different factions of parliament. Disinterest in the colony from those back in England, due to the lack of gold evident in the region caused the colony to experience periods of tyrannical local government and stunted growth (Virginia, 1904). Despite these developments, by 1619 the colony had a growth in families with wives finally coming to join their husbands. As the population grew, so too did the Puritan elements in Parliament who were able to have the Virginia companys charter revoked and Virginia became a royal colony in 1624.
Following after Virginia, the settlers of Maryland had the benefit of the Jamestown experience to influence their own growth. Within less than a year, the 300 colonists in Maryland saw growth that excelled that of Virginias for its first few years (Maryland, 1904).
Different from Virginia in many ways, chief among these differences is the founding of the colony. While Virginia was founded by a charter company, became the first permanent proprietary government in America (Maryland, 1904). Unlike Virgina, it was a lord proprietor government run by one man through a royal charter. It acts as a kind of mini kingdom. As Elson notes, it was an attempt to introduce a limited feudalism on American soil (Maryland, 1904).
Despite this foundation in a monarchy type of government, notions of democracy found a strong foothold in the early years. Virginia, to the contrary, though showing evidence of freedom minded individuals was at least semi-royalist with many pro-monarchy governors. Owing to its founding my Lord Baltimore, a Catholic, Maryland also experienced a religious tolerance not found in Virgina (1904). As a subject to a Protestant monarch, Baltimore was equally accepting of Protestants as those of his own faith (1904).
Though different in many respects, the colonies acted as complimentary neighbors in some respects. Politically, religiously, and financially the goals of the colonies were different but were able to support a wide array of interests. Each, in the end, fell and struggled under the interests of a monarchy thousands of miles away. Their eventual ideological and finally governmental unity is a tribute to both colonys early settlers and their independence.
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