Emigrate “To leave one’s own country in order to settle permanently in another”
European Colonization Three ways: Conquest (Spain) Trade (France) Settlement (England)
Reasons for Emigrating Wealth Adventure New life Freedom from: Economic troubles European society Religious persecution
Reasons for Emigrating Wealth and Adventure Example: Jamestown in the Virginia Colony 104 original settlers All male About half were “gentlemen”—not used to farm labor
Reasons for Emigrating Freedom from economic troubles Indentured servants: worked for a master in exchange for free passage to America Supposed to be trained in a skill Freed and given money after contract ended
Reasons for Emigrating Religious Persecution Puritans (20,000 between 1629 and 1642) settled in New England colonies Quakers settled in Pennsylvania (created in 1682) Catholics settled in Maryland (created in 1634)
Colonial America Population increased ten times from 1700 to 1775 Colonists: 250,000 (1700) to 2,500,000 (1775) Slaves: 28,000 to 500,000 Distinct regions New England Colonies Middle Colonies Southern Colonies
New England Colonies Geography Coastal areas with good harbors Forests Poor rocky soil Economy Small farms, lumber mills, fishing, shipbuilding, trade People and society Most lived on farms Merchants, artisans, workers, slaves lived in cities
New England Colonies
Middle Colonies Geography Fertile soil and rivers Economy Cash crops: oats, potatoes, wheat Cities on the coast People and society Wealthiest people owned large farms, businesses Most famers grew a little extra food
Middle Colonies
Southern Colonies Geography Warm climate Good soil Wide rivers Economy Cash crops: Tobacco, rice, indigo Large plantations People and Society Wealthy elite controlled most land Cash crops needed large amounts of labor slaves
Southern Colonies
Colonial Government As the colonies grew, the colonists’ views on government changed. Colonies had to be self-governing Time Distance