The age from 1450 – 1750 are categorized as the age of exploration where several European countries embarked on expeditions to create colonies in the New World. Portugal and Spain were the first countries to establish colonies in the New World, while England was the latest in obtaining colonies because of religious disunity and lack of financial capital. However, due to joint-stock companies, English citizens had a chance of settling in the New World or in the Americas for the reason of getting wealthy or the reason of escaping religious persecution. Salutary neglect left joint-stock companies to finance the trips of these new colonists. Based on preference, colonists had a variety of choices to go to from Chesapeake colonies to New …show more content…
The Enlightenment placed great emphasis on the individualism and secularism. For example, John Locke introduced ideas of natural rights. These natural rights were to be protected by the government, and if they were not, the people had the right to overthrow the government. For the first time, colonists were given the opportunity to have power and a say in government. Power came from the individual rather than a religious authority like it previously was before. America was becoming more secular. Man now had a social contract with their government because they could form their own government. This change in beliefs was significant because it led to the development of self-government, the creation of three branches and the system of checks and balances. The colonists no longer saw themselves as Englishmen but rather Americans because they were now in charge of their own laws and customs. They were no longer focused on what the English wanted but rather what they wanted for themselves. This kind of thinking led to the creation of an American identity because there was now a separation between American and English. In addition, the First