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History of colonial america
Colonialism in the united states central idea
Colonialism in america essay
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More handpicked essays just for you.
History of colonial america
Colonialism in the united states central idea
Colonialism in america essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The Jamestown and Massachusetts colonies were established by English settlers in the early 1600’s; however even though they share a common national heritage, each developed in their own fashion due to their unique circumstances, geographical location, and experiences. Jamestown, located in present-day Virginia, was established in 1607 by the Virginia Company with the goal of finding gold and other valuable resources that could be exported back to England. The early years of the colony were marked by disease, starvation, and conflict with the Indigenous tribes in the area. The colony eventually established and stabilized itself, and rapidly expanded with the arrival of tobacco cultivation from the Caribbean and the arrival of additional settlers.
In 1607, the attraction to the East Coast started off with the first permanent English settlement in North America, Jamestown. After Jamestown was founded no other colonies were made until 1620 with the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. Not long after the founding of the first two colonies, eleven other colonies were created. Even with this many colonies I believe the first two colonies to be the most influential and insightful because they set the example for all of the other colonies. Because I believe these two colonies to be the most impactful I will start with history and then break down and compare different aspects including location, motivations, early years, religious differences, native relations, and economic standpoints.
In the early 19th century many religious and racial groups migrated to the Americas due to persecution. From these groups formed the New England, Middle and Southern Colonies. Each set of colonies were based off of different natural resources and each allowed the regions to prosper. Whether they were proprietor, religious or royal colonies they each were original founded under the British government as a way to expand the country’s borders. In the end due to conflicts with neighboring Indians, different Religious groups, and later Britain itself.
After the 13 Colonies had been established, trade routes were created between the 13 Colonies and other parts of the world, including Africa, Europe, and the West Indies. They used boats to transport foods, goods, materials, and slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. This is how they got what they needed. There were a few main trade routes between different parts of the world: between the 13 Colonies and Europe, they traded goods including fish, lumber, tobacco, and whale oil, and Europe gave the colonies teas, tools, and cloth. Between the colonies and Africa, they traded iron products and rum.
Early American colonies were the base of what it is now known the United States of America. Although almost all of the colonies were from the same time period each colony differed from each other. Some of the colonies differed by their economic system and also by their way of running their colony, their government. Also, the colonies differed from their culture and their way they lived. In addition, the New England and the Chesapeake colonies were not the exception they also differed from each other.
From 1776 to 1870 the United States has gone through many changes that has influenced even how we are today. Back in 1776 the 13 Colonies fled to America to escape from British rule. They heavily complained about taxation without representation and wanted independence. The Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence and Constitution were all made to make America it's own functioning nation. However they weren't sure on how to split apart the nation so the size was originally mostly just the northern east and west coast.
The colonies of Massachusetts and Virginia were a start of the new world for England. These were founded by similar people but, with their strikingly differences, grew into separate political, economic and social structures. Both settlements arose from over-crowdedness in England: people wanted a better life. Virginia was settled by men who were single and looking for opportunities and wealth. They were part of the Anglican religion.
The Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, and English all played a major role in developing the great America. With each of their own exploring and colonizing skills, the countries had their different goals to achieve. Many of the colonies mainly desired religious freedom. However, some also just wanted profit. Such as the Dutch, who journeyed to America to spread their religion and find some type of gold or anything valuable.
The New England colonies were first founded in the last 16th to 17th century as a sanctuary for differing religious groups. New England was made up of the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. New Hampshire, however, was formed for economic reasons instead of religious ones. The Chesapeake region, which is made up of the colonies of Maryland and Virginia, was founded by the British colonies for the purpose of farming. However, by the 1700’s, despite both being settled by Englishmen, New England and the Chesapeake region had developed differently.
The British colonies in the Chesapeake region and those of the New England region were both similar yet different in certain ways. One because both the colonist that settled there were looking for new opportunities. However, it was mostly second son aristocrats, which means the first born usually inherits the better half of the father’s riches. Their lives in England had either been mistreated or they were unable to flourish economically. Regardless of whether they were searching the land for expansive homesteads, religious freedom, or exchanging and merchant opportunities, the colonist in both regions were searching for another land in the New World.
The early Virginia and New England colonies differed politically, socially, and economically due to the situations that the settlers faced. Throughout many of the letters written about some of the experiences of the earlier settlers, one can easily see a major difference in the way of life of the two colonies. Although many of these colonies differed in the way of life, each colony faced some similar things that they each had to overcome. These challenges made a massive difference in the way that each of the colonies started out and directly influenced the future for both colonies. When these challenges are faced, many of the settlers will create the foundations of their political, social, and economic systems.
The southern colony and New England Colony had many differences. The New England colony was based more in manufacturing while the southern colony was about agriculture as far as their economy. One big difference is that New England colony didn’t believe in slavery like the southern colonies believed. Slaves and indentured servants were the backbone of the Southern economy. They did much of the labor work for the southern colonies cash crops.
Both the Chesapeake colonies and the New England colonies were vital to Britain’s atlantic trade. They both had large populations and booming economies. However, they both eventually established their own cultures that were different from each other. The colonies’ differing beliefs, environments, and labor lead to the contrasting cultures. The New England Colonies were a Puritanical society, who preached against excess.
Amid the late 16th century and into the 17th century, European nations quickly inhabited the new lands called the Americas. England sent out multiple groups to two regions in the eastern coast of North America. Those areas were called the Chesapeake and the New England locations. Later, in the end of the1700 's, these two locations would combine to create one nation. However originally both areas had very different and distinctive identities.
As the Colonies were growing in population due to large-scale immigration, and as European squabbles boiled over to the Americas, rebellion was brewing. After the French and Indian war, the period salutary neglect abruptly ended. With the Colonies formerly united against France, once that ended their sights focused on the British. In addition to the united anger against the French turning to the British, the colonials realized their similarities and the common bond between all of them. Unity in the colonies saw its boom in the French and Indian War.