1. REASONS
FOR
COLONIZATION

2. Reason 1: Political Reasons
The Pilgrims
Landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts
Drew up the Mayflower Compact
Pilgrims landed in 1620.
Compact formed a gov’t saying everyone would abide by those laws.
This was an agreement to make laws for an organized colony

3. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Created by the founders of Connecticut
Created democratic government with voting rights
America’s first written constitution
Established town hall meetings
Created in Hartford
Formed 150 years before the U.S. Constitution

4. Representative Government in America grew because???????
…the British allowed the colonists to make their own laws and elect their own representatives
…of the Mayflower Compact and Fundamental Orders
…of town hall meetings

5. Reason 2: Economic Factors
MERCANTILISM
NOW PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT
AN ECONOMIC THEORY THAT REQUIRED THE COLONISTS TO BENEFIT THE MOTHER COUNTRY BY EXPORTING AND IMPORTING GOODS FOR ENGLAND

6. TYPES OF ECONOMIC COLONIES
CORPORATE COLONIES
PROPRIETARY COLONIES
The King would give charters to relatives and friends
Investors pooled their money together and asked the king for a charter
They would govern the colony and the king would get a percentage of the profit
Charter—legal document giving certain rights to a person or company
Joint Stocks were started by the Dutch in 1602.
Maryland was the first proprietary colony.
These were done by joint stock companies
All other colonies were directly under the king’s control and were called ROYAL COLONIES

7. Reason 3: SOCIAL REASONS
PILGRIMS
QUAKERS
CATHOLICS
PURITANS
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

8. WHO WERE THESE PEOPLE???? CHURCH OF ENGLAND
Many in England did not agree with the teachings and practices
The King and Queen were in charge of the Anglican Church
Anglican church was founded by King Henry VIII when he separated from the Catholic Church.
The Pope would not grant him a divorce.
WHO WERE THESE PEOPLE????

9. PILGRIMS
PURITANS
They wanted a totally new religion separate from the Anglican Church
They wanted to purify the Church of England of corruption
They were persecuted and left as well
The King would not tolerate this and persecuted the Pilgrims
The Puritans heavily influenced early American literature and history
The Pilgrims felt the only way to live in peace was to leave England
Pilgrims actually went to Holland before coming to America.
Scarlet Letter was an example of Puritanism affecting early American literature.
Over 100,000 Puritans left England by 1700.
24 were killed at the Witch Trials, 19 of those were hung.
People with different beliefs from the Puritans were put on trial as witches —SALEM WITCH TRIALS

10. QUAKERS CATHOLICS King Henry VIII made England a Protestant nation
They believed all people had the Inner Light of God within them
Most Catholics had to worship in secret in fear of jail or death
This included women, African Americans, and Indians
This led many Catholics to America
They also believed in non-violence and refused to serve in the military
Quakers believed a direct experience with God was possible.
Most Quakers were thrown in prison.
Some Quakers fled to eastern Africa
Pope Clement would not recognize Henry’s divorce
They left England because of persecution

11. SOCIAL REASONS SOCIAL MOBILITY
ENGLAND HAD A RIGID SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE HAD THEIR PLACE
IT WAS A HEIRARCHY—A RANKING FROM HIGHEST TO LOWEST
KING
NOBILITY
LANDOWNERS
EVERYONE ELSE
SOCIAL MOBILITY

12. MOST PEOPLE STARTED LOOKING FOR A…
Wool became profitable causing English landowners to stop farming
Tenant farmers found themselves unemployed
They fled to cities looking for work causing high unemployment, disease, overcrowding, & high crime
Many incurred heavy debts and were put in prison
MOST PEOPLE STARTED LOOKING FOR A…

13. BETTER LIFE Many believed a better life could be found in America
Many paid for their trip by becoming indentured servants
These were people who signed a contract to work for a certain length of time (5-7yrs) in exchange for passage to the colonies
The King saw America as a dumping ground for his excess population
Indentured servants were also given food, clothing, and shelter.
You could not get married while you were an indentured servant.