By 1600, two colonies were establishing themselves on the east coast of North America. In 1607, a group of merchants, known as the Virginia Company, settled in Jamestown, Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay (Divine, 72); while Puritan leader John Winthrop stationed himself and his followers in Massachusetts Bay in 1630. (Divine, 90) Although both settlements began relatively the same, the greater success of one over the other has caused ongoing debate among many, including the descendants of these first Americans. Some may argue that the Virginia Colony was more successful than the Massachusetts Bay Colony because of the Virginia colonists' motivation and interest in profit (Divine, 76). However, when efforts to earn an income proved futile, this and survival became the colony's sole interests. Thus, Massachusetts proved to be the strongest and most successful colony, as a result of its community development and social progress, its economic growth, and the positive influence the government had on the Massachusetts colony. Instead of having scattered villages like the Virginia colony, the people of the Massachusetts Bay Colony organized small communities built close together. These centers were built so that villagers could perform a wide range of tasks, such as cultivating the land or gathering wood from the forests (Divine, 94). This system was particularly efficient for accomplishing these important tasks and allowing time for other programs important to the colonists. The city's structure was not only efficient. Families were able to live close together, which helped create a sense of community among people. Taverns and meeting houses were commonly built in the city, giving the... middle of paper... ve in Virginia did not mean that immigrants were free from its rule. Upon departure from England, those departing took an "oath of allegiance and supremacy" (Virginia Ship's List). This meant that the people owed their loyalty to the monarch of England, not to Virginia herself. Virginia settlers might have felt frustrated that their official leader had been chosen by just one person, a person who had no place in their community. Indeed, Berkeley, the governor elected by the monarch of England, “introduced high taxes on the people, increased his power at the expense of local officials, and created a monopoly on Indian trade” (Divine, 85). This abuse of power is perhaps one of the causes of rebellions, particularly Bacon's rebellion. This Republican government leading the Virginia colony was in stark contrast to the Democratic government of the Massachusetts colony.