Throughout history, two distinct regions have dominated the American landscape; the North and South, otherwise referred to as the New England and Chesapeake colonies during the period up to 1700. Although there were many similarities between the two, they also shared a fair amount of differences. This allowed them to be unique and to stand idle from one another. Even though they both formed from the English monarchy, they each perfected lifestyles they could call their own. Differences among the development of their cultures were due to contrasting economies, relations with England, and the people who settled the area.
As with any colony, the economic status decided a major part in the development of a culture. In the case of the New England and Chesapeake colonies, many different factors accounted for the dissimilar economies that evolved. With an abundance of fertile soil, and favorable growing climate, the Chesapeake colonies developed into an agricultural center mainly based on the cultivation of tobacco. The "bewitching weed" as it was called, built a strong economic foundation for the Chesapeake colonies, mainly Virginia. Rather than an agriculturally based economy, the New England colonies" economies flourished in trade. The abundance of large seaports in the area enabled trade to grow and prosper. Infertile soil and a rather harsh climate disallowed any opportunity for large plantations to grow. Instead, small subsistence farms dotted the landscape. Both regions created distinct economies due to their full utilization of their local resources such as seaports and fertile soil.
Even though both sets of colonies were the offspring of the English monarchy, each developed their own feelings and opinions towards their distant leader. In the Northern colonies, harsh acts restricting their trade, and near tyrannical rule over the colonies developed into fairly tumultuous relations with the mother country.
