Different Scattered Settlements. CHAPTER THREE COLONIAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT-CAUSES HIN- During this period, as each colony grew in population and developed its character, certain circumstances from time to time revealed to the colonists the strength and advantage that came from united action. Among the early English settlements there was but slight tendency toward union. This fact was principally due to the following reasons: Each colony came independently from the mother country and was filled with a desire to establish itself for some particular purpose. In Virginia, for example, the purpose was commercial; in Plymouth the motive was to secure civil and religious liberty; while in Massachusetts Bay both these ideas held sway. These different motives cultivated a spirit of exclusiveness among the various colonies, and often aroused a spirit of jealousy of each other's success. The settlements were widely scattered along the Atlantic coast. Communication between them was difficult and dangerous. Then, too, each settlement was generally so absorbed in the struggle for existence that in its earliest days it was compelled to some extent to remain isolated. Such isolation was not without its advantages, however, as it developed a spirit of sturdy self-reliance and manly independ ence. The land grants under the various charters fre- Conflicting Land quently created rival claims to the same territory. Claims. As the settlements became more firmly established, the desire to trade increased the tendency to deal with each other, but disputes over territorial boundaries frequently led to jealousy and strife, and prevented the colonies from having cordial relations with one another. CAUSES FAVORING UNION OF THE EARLY COLONIES In spite of these facts, however, there were certain conditions which tended toward union. Ancestry. Generally speaking, the colonists were of English Common birth. They spoke the same language. They were bound together by the same customs and traditions brought from the mother country, and naturally their forms of government and laws were quite similar to those of England. By far the strongest tendency toward union was Common the danger common to all from the French and the Dangers. Indians. The necessity of united action against a common foe in their early days taught them respect for one another, and gradually paved the way for a true and vital union. The colonists early learned that each colony produced many commodities desired by the others. The products of the New England fisheries found Commercial Relations. Inter England. a ready market in the middle and southern colonies, while the ship stores produced in the Carolinas were eagerly sought by the shipbuilding interests of the northern colonies. West Indian productions were in demand in all the colonies, and most of the carrying trade was in the hands of the thrifty New Englanders. These commercial relations had a tendency to strengthen the ties between the different sections. As the colonies grew stronger there was still furference of ther cause for union in the gradual encroachment of England on their rights and liberties in her attempt to exploit the colonies for her own commercial advantage. United resistance to England finally became a necessity. But union was a slow process, for union is always a slow growth where strong individualism exists. It took a long time for the colonies to outgrow their individual tendencies, to realize that only through union could they maintain their rights against a force more powerful than any of the separate colonies. They also learned to subordinate their wishes to each other in order that a greater general good might result. It was not until one hundred eighty years after the establishment of the first English settlement that a real union was brought about. Conditions Deter mining Forms of Local Govern ment. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COLONIES Local government in the early colonies was developed along certain definite lines which were determined by several conditions. Among these conditions may be mentioned the following: The character of the settlers. The motives which led them hither. The topography, climate, and soil of the These conditions in the northern and the southern colonies developed widely different forms of local government. If we take Massachusetts as the typical northern colony, and Virginia as the typical southern colony, we may see in a general way all the different features of local colonial government, since all the other colonies developed forms more or less similar to the form developed in either Massachusetts or Virginia. ment in In the early part of the seventeenth century many Local of the people of England became greatly dissatisfied Governwith the Episcopal or Established Church. They Massabelieved that many of its forms and ceremonies chusetts. tended to prevent a true worship of God, and they earnestly wished to abolish them and to adopt what they regarded as a purer form of church worship. They also believed that each congregation should be independent in the management of its church affairs. Feeling that their ideas could be put into practice in America without interference, they decided to seek homes in the New World. Grouping themselves about their ministers, they came to this country enduring great hardships and suffering many privations, but filled with the lofty purpose of finding a place where they could establish and enjoy both civil and religious liberty. Bound together by a common tie, they came not as individuals or as families, but as congregations. They established homes in little communities by themselves, set up their churches, and proceeded to establish a form of self-government. Each little group of settlers became known as a town, and the area over which they settled was called a township. Grants of land were given by the London Company to the congregations as a whole, and by the congregations were allotted to individuals. These townships were generally quite small in area, and the people met together for the transaction of public business. Thus their form of government was a democracy. It must not be inferred, however, that every man took part in public affairs. This privilege was exercised only by those who took the prescribed oath of allegiance, after being duly admitted "freemen" (that is, land holders) by vote of the town. Precautions were taken to prevent undesirable persons from settling in the community. By the charters all freemen were allowed to vote; but since in the early days none but members of the church were admitted freemen, there was formed a close alliance between church and state. As all members of the township were usually members of the church, the "meeting house" served at first for both church services and town meetings. The towns received their permission to establish settlements and their grants of land from the company formed in England under the title of "The Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in |