ipl-logo

The Colonization Of Colonial America In The 17th Century

569 Words3 Pages

The dominant theme that best describes the history of colonial America is the search for economic opportunity. In the 17th century, sixteen to twenty- year- old men were motivated to travel to America to escape the hardships in Europe. Although, some would stance that the colonization of the Americas was purely exploration or religious freedom, we see the first interactions in New America was with economic motives. A majority of people today view early American history as families uprooting from England for religious freedom and new opportunities; however, the pilgrims and puritans were the smallest percent of immigrants. The original colonization of beginning America consisted of young enslaved men with nothing to lose attempting to escape the hardships of Europe, and a vast majority of African Slaves. Traveling to New America from Europe in the 17th century was a long and difficult journey due to disease and hunger, but it …show more content…

France was especially interested in trading with Native Americans, and also hoped to develop an entwined community. Unlike the Spaniards, the French didn’t treat the Native Americans as if they were inferior, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to marry Native American women. With that being said, it becomes easier to understand the characteristics and goals of the French opposed to the Spaniards. Early settlers of New America didn’t have it easy; every day settlers were faced with new obstacles and hardships to overcome. Since Jamestown was located so close to the Atlantic Ocean, and with so many people inhabiting that one area, it was a breeding ground for bacteria and disease. Hunger was a main issue as many migrant settlers died of starvation and malnutrition. Percy wrote, “Then, having fed upon horses and other beasts as long as they lasted, we were glad to make shift with vermin, as dogs, cats and mice.” Some migrants even turned to

Show More
Related
623 Words | 3 Pages

Upon their arrival to the North American continent, the Jamestown settlers had to deal with the numerous problems of a newly settled and distant colony, and Powhatan influences, as well as the discovery of the events that would improve their developing society. Although England learned of America’s existence years before their Jamestown settlement was established, there did not exist any accurate map of the Virginian geography until after the settlement had already been established. As a consequence of this, many settlements started on the American coastline and developed from there, yet these settlements would still struggle to exist while the colonists became familiar with their new found surroundings. Being unfamiliar with the environment, the first settlers had a difficult time navigating, expanding the settlement, and farming sufficient crops.

Read More
465 Words | 2 Pages

Slavery during the periods of 1607 to 1776 had a drastic change in Britain's North American Colonies. During the time of the African Diaspora, Africans were spread all over the New World. This led to an adapting and different type of workability in the colonies. The developments started with the use of indentured servitude, Bacon’s Rebellion, and slavery.

Read More
1441 Words | 6 Pages

When you think about who discovered the New World you most likely think Christopher Columbus. There is a huge controversy on who truly discovered the New World. Columbus didn’t actually mean to discover the New World, he was trying to avoid blocks so he went the other way and found the New World. A place where the Europeans have never seen. However if Columbus did he led Europe into the Age of Exploration.

Read More
1502 Words | 7 Pages

Although many people know the birth of America had much to do with new English settlers, very few know the story. Many often narrow it down Thanksgiving, Indians, and Pilgrims. However, there is a much deeper and significant story. Many challenges were faced during the 1607 - 1707 period. Many died in the quest for a New World and new life while others thrived.

Read More
684 Words | 3 Pages

The Colonial Era was the start of a new nation. Historical figures such as: William Bradford, Samoset, and Myles Standish led dedicated and headstrong people to an unclaimed territory soon to become America. When members of Catholic churches grew frustrated, they embarked on a journey from England to Cape Cod. These people, the “Pilgrims,” landed their ships in Cape Cod in 1620. A record was created of the departure, journey, arrival, and beginning of life in the New World.

Read More
1399 Words | 6 Pages

Beginning in the early 1400s, Europeans, ranging from French to Spanish to English, began flocking to North America for a variety of reasons, both holistic as well as selfish. While some methods of colonization were healthier than others, all had their advantages and disadvantages to the overall gain of the colonizer. Some argue that colonizers sought mainly religious advantages; however, all colonization in the New World, even religious, was rooted in socioeconomic greed. Men who were unable to climb the social hierarchy in Europe sought new opportunity in America, and other colonists sought economic gain through gold and cash crops; therefore, the colonization of North America was not a religious endeavor, but instead it was a socioeconomic

Read More
579 Words | 3 Pages

When English royalty began giving charters for the exploration of America, people had no idea what kinds of adversities they would face. While eager to obtain new land and sources of economic growth, many ignored the possible negative outcomes of exploration. English settlers would be forced to overcome human and environmental challenges that would make it difficult to establish and maintain permanent colonies in America from the time of Sir Walter Raleigh to the time of Opechancanough. When Sir Walter Raleigh organized the expedition to Roanoke, the primary reason to go to America was the possibility of establishing a profitable colony.

Read More
526 Words | 3 Pages

The settlers that made the journey endured harsh conditions and many challenges, but ultimately persevered which made it possible for them to gain control of the territory and create a New World. Many of the colonists were Puritans who desired to purify

Read More
390 Words | 2 Pages

Ben Abolt 11/21/16 Page 133 Final Draft The Personal Accounts of Exploration and Settlement Several documents from the 1600s illustrate how life may have been for early Americans. Both Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford, and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano expose how people viewed the consequences and sufferings of an early colony.

Read More
959 Words | 4 Pages

Kylie Lambert Professor Menke October 11, 2017 First Essay The Colonist during the 1600’s, up until the 1800’s, did not agree with the British government controlling them. Great Britain had an impact on the colonies and their development by setting multiple laws, applying taxes, and forcing religion on the Colonists.

Read More
138 Words | 1 Pages

Fostering many new colonies throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Britain enacted several strict laws intended to restrict colonial manufacturing and benefit their economy. As these acts eventually only led to illegal smuggling and unregulated trade, the British finally gave in and practiced the policy of salutary neglect for a majority of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Under this policy, laws regarding trade regulations were loosely enforced, and colonists favored this relationship for many years. However, this all came to an end with the French and Indian War, which caused Britain to accumulate enormous debt. Throughout the course of the war, the political, economic, and ideological relationship between the British and its colonies

Read More
272 Words | 2 Pages

In the fall of 1609, several hundred European settlers were struggling to survive on swampy Jamestown Island, riding out a brutal drought and hoping for boatloads of supplies. Evidence from waste pits suggests that the settlers, who first arrived on this land in May 1607, feasted on deer, turtles and sturgeon during their first year in the New World. They’d eat up all of the domestic stock-the dogs and the horses. They’d get down to eating rats and even poisonous snakes. As the winter wore on, scores of Jamestown's inhabitants suffered from diseases associated with malnutrition and contamination, including dysentery, typhoid and scurvy.

Read More
470 Words | 2 Pages

However, a key reform that proved to be profitable was the importation of women. This helped improve the family structure. “Conclusion” After the Europeans stole the land from the people who originally inhabited America, order was needed. Colonization was the answer. The “interest in colonization grew in part as a response to social and economic problems.

Read More
124 Words | 1 Pages

There are two main reasons for population growth within the English American Colonies. The first was immigration, which accounted for about one quarter of the growth. Land was cheap, and the economy was booming. Colonists were bringing more slaves from Africa to the colonies. This also shifted the racial and ethnic makeup of the colonies.

Read More
1333 Words | 6 Pages

The 18th century serves as a major turning point in the British Empire, forming the modern view of its territories and conquests. The birth of imperial Britain is truly complete with the conquering of the New World, mainly the Caribbean and North America, near the middle of the 17th century. It is this conquering of the Spanish empire and the subjugation of newly discovered people that finalizes the trending growth of Britain’s global empire, which created and fostered anxiety in the British people. The idea of nation-building defined a new role for Britain, which only fully incorporated Scotland in 1740, solidifying their place in the networks of global trade. It is through this development that for the first time, in the 18th century, large groups of people were not only able to identify as a nation in Britain, but also distinguish “otherness” through the subjugation of native peoples in newly discovered lands.

Read More

More about The Colonization Of Colonial America In The 17th Century

Related Topics

Open Document