Compare and contrast the colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay.

The two colonies were quite different. Virginia was designed to make money. It was established by men in 1607—women would not be shipped in until 1619. The men who established it initially hoped to find a water route to China. They then hoped to find gold there. When neither of these came to pass, they became exporters of tobacco. Virginia tobacco soon became a staple all over the world and led to a focus on this major cash crop. While not very religious, the colony would support the Anglican church.
Massachusetts Bay, on the other hand, was established by families. The goal of this colony was to provide a place for the Pilgrims to settle where they could practice their religion freely. While Virginia would ultimately turn to slavery to support its plantations, Massachusetts Bay would never rely on slavery; rather, they would rely on the children of the colony to provide much of the labor. Slavery did exist in the colony, but it was discontinued after the Revolutionary War. The colony was more close-knit than Virginia, as the farms were smaller. Due to an unfavorable climate and rocky soil, many turned away from farming altogether and looked to shipbuilding and whaling to make their money.
The differences between the two colonies summarize the difference between the cultures of the North and South that would continue for generations. The descendants of the founders of Virginia would create a class-based society, whereas the descendants of Massachusetts Bay would be more entrepreneurial.