Reasons for the 13 Colonies

Reasons why people migrated to the “New World” Economic Gold -Spain’s success had convinced Europeans that gold and silver were in abundance in North America, many came in search of these precious metals. Land – Land was not available to the average farmer in Europe, but land was in abundance in North America. Political European Monarchs wanted to develop colonies in the New World as a new source of wealth. They granted individuals and companies the rights to establish colonies. Reasons why people migrated to the “New World” Social Europe was not always a paradise for the average European, they faced poverty, political turmoil, famine, and disease. Thousands of people migrated between 1629-1640 to escape these conditions. Religious Some groups came to North America to escape religious persecution. Pilgrims, Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics all fled Europe to establish communities where they could worship freely.

European Claims on North America Spain – Claimed much of the southwest and Florida. They came to conquer, and to convert Natives to Christianity. They established the plantation system as a means to grow cash crops. France – Claimed lands in Canada and the Mississippi River valley. They came to establish trading partnerships, they were interested in taking apart of the Fur Trade. Dutch – Established a trading center in what is now New York. They wanted to establish a trading network in North America. The Dutch colony was later taken over by the British. British – Claimed land along the Atlantic coast between the Appalachian Mountains and the coastline, they wanted lands in North America to compete with their European rivals.

1607 The first permanent English settlement is established at Jamestown Virginia. The success at Jamestown led to the development of more British colonies along the Atlantic coast. 1620 The first self governing colony in North America was established at Plymouth, MA, with the signing of the Mayflower Compact. Pilgrims established this colony on the basis of religions freedom.

Reasons for the 13 Colonies Religious Economic Social Political P U R I T A N F O R M E Massachusetts New York Virginia Georgia D U T C H North & South Carolina Connecticut New Jersey New Hampshire Delaware Rhode Island Debtor’s Colony founded by James Oglethorpe Religious Tolerance Maryland Cash Crop Colonies T.R.I.C.S Anglicans Pennsylvania Catholics Quakers

Colonies Founded for Dual Purposes Jamestown –Originally founded for economic reasons, they grew cash crops, but also political reasons because it was England’s first colony in North America, it established the British presence in North America. Pennsylvania –Originally founded for Quakers to worship freely, but was once apart of the Dutch claim in North America. England took control of the region for political reasons. New York – The original Dutch colony was taken over for political reasons, but the geography of New York makes it a ideal center of Trade. In this sense it suited England’s economic interest. Georgia – Founded originally for social reasons, it was created for English debtors to have a fresh start in the New World, it also served as a “buffers zone” from Spanish Florida. Therefore it was also founded for political reasons.