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rawing from BOTH class lectures and outside readings, compare and contrast the founding and development of the Northern (New England) and Southern (Virginia/Chesapeake) colonies. Who were these original colonists, and why did they venture to the "New World" in the first place? Were these colonization enterprises successful? In other words, were their colonists prosperous, plentiful, and/or happy? Finally, although the Northern and Southern colonies exhibit remarkably different early histories, can you pinpoint a moment or moments when their interests began converging, or when colonists across British North America began developing a common identity as "Americans?"

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Answer: All the information below shows the contrast between the Northern and the Southern colonies, for each question above.

Explanation:

1. The original colonists

Colonists who arrived to North England were mostly families, carrying a clear conception of colonizing as a community to be established as a religious but well structured society in representation of England, initially.

On the other hand, colonists who settled in Virginia were actually going to find ways to do business, since at the time economy of a country was thought to be prosperous as long as a dominant one could obtain all kinds of resources from another. In fact, 'Virginia' was the name of the company that financed the trip. Most of the people who arrived there were male, coming from families whose social status was very rigid and which economic interests were at stake.

2. Why they ventured to the New World

On both sides, their intention was to claim lands for England and trade (to England, as well, to ensure the country's economy would remain solid).

3. Colonization enterprises- successful?

From an economic point of view, the goals to find new lands for England and resources to enhance the colonial country's economy were achieved.

From a social perspective, a fundamental factor that fostered a unified identity was religion, since most of the colonists were Puritans. Having a uniform point of view of what should or should not be (talking about that specific moment of American History, not as a universal mindset), helped that society consolidate according to their ideals and targets at the moment. However, although middle and high class colonists at that moment were economically prosperous or successful, some sectors in that society were undoubtedly unhappy, meaning the slaves and the poor (besides Native Amnerican peoples mistreated and termination).

4. Converging interests

- Most of the colonies were financed business expeditions, and they expected to bring back profit.

- The colonists tried to keep the English World into the New World. This meant they developed societies with very specific definitions on social status (even physically): slave communities, poor people communities, middle class, high class and the exclusion of Native Americans .

- Also, the colonists were part of an empire, whcih implied that they would keep constant contact with European colonists, explorers, traders, and missionaries, besides frequent trades deals with Europe itself, the Mediterranean and Africa.

- Ater a relatively short period of time, the Southern ways for government succeded and worked for all colonies, hence establishing the foundation for what later would become a unified nation and starting the development of the American identity.

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