The Crucible

FRQ: Compare and contrast the different ways in which economic development affected politics in Massachusetts and Virginia in the period from 1607 to 1750.
Direction: Compare and contrast
Divisions: beginning settlement, religion, means of economic stability
Thesis: The early settlements of the Massachusetts and Virginia Companies were both established by the similar groups of people; however their differing beginnings as a colony, views on religion, and means of economic stability created two different politics and economic systems.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
Opening Sentence: From all of the colonies that resulted from European expansion and conquest, perhaps the two most famous would be those of Virginia and Massachusetts.
Concluding Sentence: Thesis statement
FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH
Topic Sentence: The settlements of Virginia and Massachusetts were both established during relatively the same time, but the ways that they were established differed tremendously.
Point #1: Trial and error
Support #1: The Virginia Company had many failures and close call, while Massachusetts has a successful first settlement; smart decisions regarding food and planning made this possible
Point #2: Leadership
Support #2: Virginia did not have good leadership until John Smith, while Massachusetts had John Winthrop who successfully developed the settlement; well thought out society based on a set of ideals made life easy to follow
 Point #3: Workers
Support #3: Virginia people tended to be lazy and rely on the native, while Massachusetts was settle by hard working Puritans did not have as much problems with natives in the beginning
Additional Information: Pocahontas, Puritan work ethic
Concluding Sentence: The differences in the settlement’s upbringing were not the only thing that divided the two colonies; the differing views on religion helped to shape the economy of both settlements.
SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH
Topic Sentence: The Virginia and Massachusetts Companies both realized... [continues]

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