Differences between the Jamestown and New England colonies

It wasn't until 1617 when tobacco was discovered as a staple crop that the outlook for Jamestown changed (Ayers et al, page 48). Followed by changes with the Virginia Company in 1619 making it easier for people to become landowners, the population of Jamestown began to grow (Ayers et al, page 50). Still suffering with a high mortality rate due to disease, and a long running war with the Powhatan, population growth was only a portion of actual immigration (Ayers et al, page 51).
             While Jamestown was a business venture, the main goal behind the New England colonies was religious expression (Ayers et al, page 58). Religious freedom was not something easily come by in Europe at this time, so different groups established colonies in North America as a way to obtain the religious freedom they wanted (Ayers et al, page 58). .
             Established in 1620, the Plymouth colony was created by the Pilgrims (Ayers et al, page 58). The Pilgrims originally left England for the Netherlands in 1607 when some members of their church were jailed as nonconformists (Ayers et al, page 58). Finding that they were also unhappy in Dutch Society, the Pilgrims began looking for another option (Ayers et al, page 58). Making an agreement with a group of London merchants who had obtained the rights to land from the Virginia Company, the Pilgrims left for Virginia and their religious freedom (Ayers et al, page 58). Landing in Cape Cod instead of in Virginia, the Pilgrims decided to build their colony at Plymouth instead of continuing on (Ayers et al, page 58). Despite previous dealings with previous Europeans that had not gone well, the Native Americans helped the settlers at Plymouth (Ayers et al, page 58). While the colonists had difficulty making repayment to the London merchants, it was agreed in 1626 that the land would be sold to the Pilgrims, which was accomplished by 1645 (Ayers et al, page 60). Although the economic opportunities continued to grow in Plymouth, the population, by choice, remained small and separate from that of the rest of the New England Colonies (Ayers et al, page 60).