The vast differences between the colonies of Jamestown and New England begin with their charters and the reasons for those charters. The charter for the settlement at Jamestown was issued to the Virginia Company in 1606, and when it was settled in 1607 its purpose was the same as that of any other business, to generate wealth (Ayers et al, page 46). The colonies in New England however, first established at Plymouth in 1620, were created to give the founding groups religious freedom (Ayers et al, page 56). Some of the resulting colonies of New England extended this religious freedom to all members of the colony, some insisted that every member of the colony submit to the chosen religion.
As mentioned earlier, the Jamestown colony was established as a business venture (Ayers et al, page 48). The owners of the charter intended to become rich and stay in England. Most of the first inhabitants were also only concerned with becoming wealthy and returning to England (Ayers et al, page 48). This became quite a hindrance for the population of Jamestown. Many of the original settlers were too concerned with making money to worry about the necessities of survival. Having wasted space and efforts bringing servants instead of farmers, and being unwilling to do the work themselves, many settlers starved to death or resorted to cannibalism to avoid it (Ayers et al, page 48). Realizing that the company was not going to feed them, and the manual labor being beneath them, they often forced the Native Americans to provide food and clothing (Ayers et al, page 48). After all, the Native Americans were seen as savages with a heathen religion (Ayers et al, page 48). Not being on the same level as the English settlers, the English were able to justify their horrific treatment of the Native Americans. Pillage, rape, and death were the punishments for not cooperating with the English demands for food and tribute, and sometimes administered even when the Native Americans did comply (Ayers et al, page 48).