Charterchalk

This passage details European colonization of North America, focusing on England's 17th and 18th century colonies. England aimed to gain wealth and power through mercantilism, using colonies for resources and trade. Competition with other European nations like the Dutch is highlighted. The colonies grew through immigration, with policies like land grants and religious tolerance attracting settlers. However, this expansion often displaced Native Americans. The colonies developed distin...

English colonization arose from a desire for wealth, religious freedom, and national power. Early attempts in the Chesapeake struggled with harsh conditions and Native American conflict. Tobacco became a cash crop, attracting colonists and fueling the demand for labor, first through indentured servants and later enslaved Africans. Meanwhile, Puritans in New England sought a "pure" society, establishing self-governing towns with strict religious codes. Despite valuing education and limi...

By the mid-18th century, the landscape of North America had been irrevocably transformed. Native American populations had been devastated, diverse European colonies had taken root, and a unique American society was beginning to take shape. The tensions and contradictions within this new society would eventually culminate in the American Revolution.