August 7

Blog #38 – Main reason behind colonization of the New World?

Throughout the early history of colonial America, there were a number of reasons why Europeans settled in the New World.  Going back to the Spanish era (1492-1606), the Spanish explorers/conquistadors came looking for quicker routes to Asia (because the Portuguese found a way to get around the windy coast of Africa).  When the Spanish didn’t find that route, they extracted as much gold and silver from the New World as they could.

The first successful English settlement was at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, and these English dandies were there to make money, hoping to hit the same jackpot that the Spanish had rung up a century earlier.  Eventually, they made money from tobacco cultivation.

 

Other English settlers, namely the Separatists, Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics, came to worship God in their own way.   They didn’t always agree and weren’t always tolerant of each other, but it was better than living under persecution in the Old World.

 

English settlers from Barbados left the horrible climate of the Caribbean Islands with their slaves and settled in the Carolinas.   The slaves were used in the very labor-intensive rice cultivation.

 

 

Later, Georgia was set up by a wealthy group of beneficiaries as an experiment – a debtor’s colony, where land ownership was initially restricted to 50 acres, and slavery and alcohol were banned.

 

The Dutch also came, founding a cosmopolitan city now known as New York.   They were conquered by the English who feared that New Amsterdam would form a wedge in between the two sets of English colonies in the north and south.

 

Question: Considering the different reasons that the Europeans came here (listed above), what do you think is the main reason why they would risk life and limb to come this wilderness?    Or do you think there’s more than one reason?  Why?

 

Use information from the packet as well when you explain your rationale.

 

250 words minimum for your response.  Due August 30th.  


Posted August 7, 2012 by geoffwickersham in category Blogs

74 thoughts on “Blog #38 – Main reason behind colonization of the New World?

  1. Daniel Oleynik

    I believe that Europeans came to America for two reasons. First reason was prosperity and the second was religious freedom. The Europeans who came to America believed that there were many riches to be found there. In their search for prosperity, the whole Mayan Kingdom was destroyed because a Spanish conqueror believed that the Mayans were hiding the city of gold. Many trips to America were made to find a city of gold, but no one succeeded. Another reason I think that the Europeans came to America in their search for wealth was the use of slaves in tobacco and cotton plantations. Slaves helped their owners become well-off because they worked for free and did not need too much money to take care of. People, who came here, believed that America was a new world and therefore, a new life and the possibility to become rich and famous beyond their wildest dreams were within their reach.
    The Europeans also came to America for religious freedom because in England, they were banned from being a protestant or a puritan. Other sects of Christianity other than Catholicism also were not allowed. The Maryland Colony was institutionalized for religious freedom. Seeing this, other colonies also followed suit and gave people religious freedom. People of different faiths including Lutherans, Protestants, Calvinists and Deists came to the colonies in seek of religious rights. They went to America for religious freedom, because they were persecuted by the Catholics in Europe. As a result, America became a very diverse community with many different religions and nationalities living together in the same country. The search for religious freedom might have been the start of America’s diversity.
    To end my blog, I consider wealth and the freedom of religions the main reasons for Europeans settling into the colonies.

  2. Katherine Voigt

    These people left their little comfort zones behind to travel to this wilderness known as the “new world” because they just needed a fresh start and some more space! In England, the population of around five million people in this tiny, water-surrounded island, that just had gotten over a massive plague break out, who would want to stay there? Sure these people were barely educated and had no idea how to farm, but there were gold, space, and bountiful food! The stories that the explorers had brought back told of a limitless landmass, untouched by human hands. When the king got word of this? CHA-CHING! Release the pounds! The king knew this would expand his borders into the new world and beyond; he could tax these people out of their ears! While the king plotted, the new-englanders packed themselves onto small boats. Now these people really had no idea how hard this trip was going to be. Babies were born, diseases were spread, people died below the decks of the fabled mayflower. But to the survivors, the journey was only begining. No farming skills, no food, no real supplies, it was going to be a long journey for them. The first few boats were either lost in a storm or the food was bad by the time it got there. These were the strongest New-Englanders of the pack. Except for the winter. The second winter took 60 of the 600 people left. The remainders? They represent the American strength we carry in our hearts to this day. All it took to start a country was a craving for some elbowroom.

  3. Carley Salerno

    Although there were many reasons for Europeans to colonize in the New World, I think that the citizen’s main incentive was for a fresh start. At the time when colonization in the New World became an option, the citizens of Europe had good reasons for wanting to leave. Disease, overpopulation, unemployment, and food and land shortages left Europe a mess, especially England. Also, in England as well as many other countries, many had very few options of survival. People who couldn’t have land (whether they couldn’t afford it or there wasn’t enough because of the surplus population) could either hope for a job, starve from lack of food and income, or risk their lives and take the opportunity to start all over with fresh land in the New World. Because of the dense population and high unemployment rate, finding a job was practically impossible. But in the New World, jobs were always being created. Not only that, but there was more unused land in the New World than anyone could dream of, not to mention the new materials to discover and harvest.
    To add to the turmoil in England and other parts of Europe, religious conflicts plagued the citizens and government. Reformations unleashed unrest: King Henry VII cut everyone off from the Catholic Church, Protestants were prosecuted by “Bloody Mary,” and Puritans were made “the bad guys” by King James. So many people were miserable and had no other options but to leave or die.
    Luckily, there was a bright and shiny “New World” waiting for them. Compared to Europe, America sounded like a haven worth risking their lives for. They were just risking their lives even more by staying where they were. People pictured it as being the new beginning they needed, dreaming of a world of perfection like Thomas More’s “Utopia.” They just needed a clean slate, and they hoped a better picture would be drawn for them on that slate.

  4. Carolyn Dimitry

    I think it’s impossible to point to a single reason why men and women would risk life, limb and comfort by leaving home in Europe and moving to the colonies. Every person who came probably had one overriding reason why he or she came, but it would have varied from person to person. Groups such as the Puritans and Quakers had different reasons than the people who moved to Jamestown and the southern colonies to make money through farming. The Spanish originally came looking for a route to Asia, and the French came to the Americas and made money through fur trading. Each nation had reasons to send people to the colonies, but those reason varied from nation to nation. Religion and money are a common theme throughout the colonies; fleeing religious persecution in the northern colonies such as Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New England and creating plantations and large farms in South Carolina and Georgia and much of the southern colonies. However, they aren’t the only reasons; Georgia’s pervading reason for being created was to hold the Spanish at bay and protect British land from invasion. Some men came to the New World after being charged with leading the colonies and their errant governments, some came burdened with one cargo and would soon leave with another, and some came to enforce laws written by the leaders on the other side of the Atlantic. But while every man and woman who arrived in the colonies had a reason to be there, a reason they risked the treacherous journey across the ocean, this reason varied between every single one of them, making it impossible to settle on a single reason or even two reasons why people came to the New World.

  5. Marie Suehrer

    It is always interesting to look at the motives of why people take certain actions. Especially when they can change the way a whole planet works. Like so did the establishment of the colonies in the New World, known today as The USA. In my opinion there was several factors that added up to the establishment of the colonies in America. One was for sure the fact of trying to escape from the very powerful monarchies that were in place in Europe. Other factors most likely included basic lifestyles, the people were unsatisfied with and trying to escape from such as jobs, orders in society, the differentiating between men and women and kids, the availability of food and probably also housing. The colonist hoped for prosperity and where sure to live a happy and successful life in the Americas. They believed that resources in the New World would bring new prosperity to them, their family then their country and at last the whole world. Inspired from their dreams of the probably perfect world colonist from European countries-mostly Spain and England-made a plan on how to reach the other continent and how to build up the first colonies and cities. The opportunity was perfect. England was filled to the top with people and the population was still growing despite the plaque that had just shortly ended. The colonist saw new and better life in the new world; the king saw more power. So he couldn’ do anything but support the colonization into the NEw World. But did not expect to be overthrown and he did not expect the colonists to be so independent. All to their benefit.

  6. Julia Berthel

    European settlers came to the New World for one reason: they wanted a better life. Whether they were motivated by wealth, religion, or climate, they all came in search of the best life they could find, which they felt could only be found in the New World. A better life was worth everything they had, so they would do whatever it took to get it. The English settlers in Barbados, for example, wanted a different climate to grow crops. They thought that moving their families and slaves to the New World would pay off when it was time to harvest their crops. Other English settlers came in search of religious freedom, which they did not have in the Old World. They felt that being able to worship their way without punishment was worth everything. The Spanish, on the other hand, finding there was gold and silver in the New World, was motivated by wealth. Although they found the riches by mistake, they found that they were worth going back for. To the Spanish, it was worth the risk if it meant improving their lifestyle. Similarly to the Spanish, the English settlers of Jamestown were there to make money. They were, like the other settlers, dissatisfied with their living conditions in the Old World, so they wanted their lives to change. That is what all these situations have in common. The reasons might not appear to be the same at first, if you think of the reasons in terms of wealth, religion, or climate. Looking at the bigger picture, however, you would see that these settlers all act out of desire. They all want something that they can’t have in the Old World, that they can only get in the New World. They are willing to leave their old lives behind and risk it all, because they believe that if they get what they want, it will all be worth it. If they get that something that they want so much, their lives will improve. Their lives will get better.

  7. Chris Gaiters

    I believe the Europeans came to America because they just wanted to be very wealthy and try to control the entire world. They also came to trade goods such as spices, and sell and buy. Since America was bigger than Europe, the Europeans wanted to explore new things and ideas outside of their country.They all risked their lives to explore a much more superior country, the man reason, WEALTH! They wanted a better life for sure, America was just richer in everything.Europeans also wanted their religious freedom from their king. These Europeans did not have to risk their lives, but it was worth it. On the other hand they pushed the native Americans from their home, which they have been living their for centuries, but the Europeans acted selfish and didn’t share the land. The Europeans would also come for gold which was obtained by farming, trading, and exporting. They would come to better their reputation by finding the glory. With their freedom of religion a lot of the Europeans converted to Christianity. The Europeans wanted to get away from their evil king to take a life threatening quest to America to better their lives and reputation. They were seeking greater opportunities and freedoms for themselves and their families. They thought they would have easier lives, freedom from the king, they wanted a fresh start, they even wanted to live in a better government.They expected new, free, fertile lands, wanted to start their own colony. Europe also became overpopulated, were political refugees.

  8. Safia Sayed

    The main reason Europeans risked all that they had to come to the New World was the desire for wealth. Although all settlers that came to America had their own personal reasons for leaving Europe, none of them would have been able to make the journey without the King’s charter and the colonizing efforts of various companies, such as the London and Plymouth Companies. The Kings of England during the period of colonization in the New World recognized the benefits of acquiring American colonies. These colonies supported the principles of mercantilism exactly: England could acquire new goods without importing it from a foreign rival and sell its own goods to a completely new market. Both the London and Plymouth Companies accepted these charters in order to make money. The companies believed they would find all sorts of ways to make easy money in the colonies, primarily gold. The companies didn’t care about creating a new community in the New World. This is why the London Company thought it unnecessary to bring women to Jamestown. Eventually, the companies made changes to the way they ran their colonies, but all changes were an effort to increase the profitability of the colonies. The Virginia Company, formerly known as the London Company, tried to bring families to the New World in order to keep up a sustainable population that could produce profitable crops, such as tobacco. So although Separatists, Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics desired a new place to live without religious persecution, the means to get there would have been impossible without the greed of English kings and companies that ultimately controlled permission and transportation to the New World. And the King certainly did not issue his charters to allow his disobedient subjects to escape his authority. The purpose of colonization was money. Settlers with other aims simply took advantage of the huge colonizing effort, which was primarily founded to improve the English economy. As for the Spanish, routes to Asia for trading and the collection of gold and silver were both ways to get money.

  9. Seth Rosen

    European settlers came to the New World with the hope of having a fresh start and/or a better life. Wealth, climate, and religious freedoms are all factors that would give the European settler’s a better life in the New World. In 1492, Spanish explorers tried finding an express rout to Asia. When they landed in the New World, they thought it was India (that’s why some people call Native Americans Indians). The Spanish took as much gold and silver as they could hold and went back to Spain. In 1607 the first successful English settlement was established in Jamestown, Virginia. These settlers were hoping to have the same type of luck that the Spanish settlers had in the New World a century earlier. Eventually, the English settlers made money from the tobacco industry. The Separatists, Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics came to the New World to worship God without the fear of persecution. They were not always nice to each other, but it was better than living in the Old World. In Barbados the climate is very hot. It is better swimming temperature than working temperature, especially if you’re a slave. The main crop from Barbados was sugar. Eventually the English settlers/slave owners left the hot climate of Barbados with their slaves, and settled in the Carolinas. The new cash crop that the slaves handled was rice. The main reason that the European settlers risked life and limb to come to the wilderness of the New World was the hope of having a fresh start and/or a better life.

  10. Chris Coburn

    I believe the Settlers came to America for religious freedom and economic success. Religious turmoil within the country had left the government in a mess. The state was trying to create a single religion against many other forms. The main struggle was between the Protestants and the Catholics, and this lead to the hanging of a king. Other religious groups, like the puritans, separatists, and Calvinists, were smaller but challenged the ideas of parliament. Laws preventing the non-dominant religious groups to meet and assemble lead to a great deal of persecution from the government and its people. These persecutions lead to the forming of many of the 13 colonies, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. One of the first colonies, the city of Plymouth, was founding entirely by Separatists. After King James I death in 1625, the Catholic religion was favored and the puritans were often persecuted. This allowed for the colony of Massachusetts to be formed as a religious haven. Different religious beliefs would go on to form Rhode Island and Connecticut. While these colonies were forming, back in England a distraught government and growing population lead to economic problems. At a point, parliament even disbanded for 11 years. One of the first colonies, Jamestown, was created as an economic venture by a trading company. Other colonies and trading companies would also be formed to help with Britain’s economy. Farther south, the English Caribbean Islands became economic hubs for the English. They created an extensive slave trade that generated a fair amount of cash for the Government. The Caribbean islands were colonized after the Spanish built a great empire of off the gold and silver they took in Mexico. The islands were England’s attempt at a get-rich-quick scheme. I think some of the early settlers came to America for religious freedom, while other people came for economic ventures and quick profits. Both reasons created struggles and forms of prosperity.

  11. Gabriel Mann

    There is definitely more than one reason people wanted to come to the new world and one of them was to escape religious persecution and to start a fresh life in a new world. The first settlers to arrive in America wanted a chance to worship freely and choose which religion they wanted to take part in. Most of the colonies were formed on the basis of their peoples religious beliefs. Along with escaping the Church of England the settlers also escaped the over population of europe expecting fertile land a new life and one without a king they made haste and left for the new world. The second reason and probably most important one is that people who came to the new world came for Economic opportunity some came to mine gold others set up trade centers there. Even Jamestown was partly funded by a business venture in england, when the 13 colonies were established the demand for labor was high and people also came for jobs since there was a higher demand america than europe at the time, and there was much more land at a very cheaper price. There was an abundant amount of resources in the new world depending on the region that was your home the northern colonies were rich in forests and money could be made off of fur trapping, lumber, and fishing as well as ship building. In the southern colonies farmers grew major cash crops most importantly of them was tobacco. The opportunities were endless for hungry immigrants and businessmen coming to the new world for economic benefit or to just get rich.

  12. Antonio Delgado

    I don’t think there was one main reason that the Europeans came to America. Many countries had different motives and ideas of what they wanted to do with the New World. I believe that some Europeans came to the New World for a new start and as a result of past success and discoveries from earlier settlements. I believe the large supply of fur trade and wealth in gold and silver was not an original motive for the first settlers, as they was discovered one they had already settled in America. However, I believe that once news of valuable minerals such as gold and silver, as well as new markets for trade reached Europe, the Europeans couldn’t resist the wealth they could gain from the New World. I also believe that some Europeans also possibility emigrated to spread imperialism to a new land as they did in Africa. I believe they came over expecting to conquer large areas and prosper for the good of their home countries. The New World also gave adventurers an opportunity to explore a remote world, which is one of the reasons I believe they came to America. As stated by many other students, I also believe religious freedom was a major motive for some Europeans, such as the Puritan Separatists. They needed a fresh start and an opportunity to build a community of free worship, and the new world gave them that opportunity. In conclusion, there were many motives for leaving Europe for the new world, but in my beliefs, the most significant were Religious freedom, Imperialism, and past success of neighboring countries.

  13. Kayla Kapen

    Based on the evidence in the writing above and in the packet, there are two reasons why the colonists would have come to America. The first reason is for them to get away from religious persecution. The Separatists in England were imprisoned and executed for years because they were going against the Church of England and the English government. In America, George Calvert established the colony of Maryland. He wanted it to be a safe retreat for the English Catholics who felt as if they were being oppressed in their own home. The second reason is that the Europeans wanted to have a nice and clean start in a new place. There were many new opportunities for the Europeans. There was a high demand for jobs so people wouldn’t be extremely poor and hungry. There were also many resources and big cash crops. On the Caribbean Islands, the white population was very small and wealthy while the African American population was large. The African Americans were the labor forces and white planters would monitor them closely and harshly. The slave owners said that it would be cheaper to keep buying new slaves instead of taking care of the ones that they had already owned. Slave owners would usually work their slaves to death and slaves would usually not live past the age of forty due to the horrible conditions. Immigrants would feel safer in the colonies. An example is that in the colony of Georgia, alcohol and slavery were banned.

  14. Becky Simonov

    Throughout history, there has been one trait that was the most indicative of human nature: The pursuit of happiness. This could be viewed in the most primal of matters, as in the Paleolithic era peoples, whose happiness, or rather satisfaction, came from a steady supply of food, shelter, and other necessities. As human society developed, so did human aspiration. Concepts previously unheard of in the ancient world, such as personal wealth and organized religion, became the way of life to most of the population. By the time of the Age of Discovery, there were countless opposing beliefs and values, yet the only reason for this was because everyone had a different idea of how to pursue happiness, the conflicting views of the various churches of Christianity being just one example. Of course in an ideal world, those who followed one branch of Christianity would not have a need to force their beliefs upon others, for what right does anyone have to define the proper way of living? However, realistically this was impossible, everyone wanting to try to impart their beliefs for a better life on others, ultimately causing the corruption of intentions. What may very well have started as the desire to spread the “correct” path to eternal happiness, shifted into a power struggle. Those forcing their ideology upon others always had a justification for their actions, usually in God, but when people are forced to go against their beliefs, their contentedness with life tends to go away. When King Charles reformed the Church of England, the minority Separatists, most notably the Puritans, were subject to persecution for having conflicting beliefs to the mainstream church and were seen as both a religious and political threat to the crown and the nation. The colonies in the New World presented an opportunity for some Puritans to break away from the King and the Bishop of England and have control over their own lives. This sense of freedom, the ability to define the life they would lead, could have only been seen as a sure path to a happier life. By crossing the Atlantic to the New World, the Puritans were essentially doing the same thing as everyone else in the world: Trying to find happiness. The only reason the Puritans are singled out in history is that their immigration to America was part of the foundation that started this country.
    On a different note, many settlers journeyed to the New World not for want of religious freedom, but rather for desire of wealth. Even looking at Columbus, who stumbled upon the Americas when searching for an alternate route to India, it is clear that his quest was not purely for the satisfaction of knowledge. While Columbus may very well have been motivated by hopes for glory, those who funded his exploits had other ideas. The Spanish Crown wanted a faster trade route to India, a faster route meaning faster shipments of exotic goods from Asia. Such an increase in productivity could only mean more money for Spain. The nation as well as the monarchy would grow more wealthy and powerful, perhaps even increasing the standard of living for the citizens. When looking at the common man, one of their strongest desires is for themselves and their close ones to live full, happy lives. If money is the way to achieve this, then of course anyone would want to have as much as possible. Personal wealth was not always such an important component of happiness, if people never discovered that by trading for goods they needed, it would leave room for other, more important tasks, then everyone would still be living in a completely primal world. Humans, however, are unique in that they constantly seek improvement, how else could have the modern world have ever come to exist? If an established economy was such an essential step for the improvement of the quality, then of course humanity would pursue this course. People instinctively take the path that they believe will make them happier, its part of human nature. In the particular instance of the colonization of the Americas, wealth was just one thing that could sate humanity’s ever-growing desire for improvement in life. Everyone who settled in the New World had hopes and dreams, but their ideas for happiness only came out of the society they lived in. Humans defined their own self-fulfilling prophecy by following their own nature, something that has distinguished this species from all others in the world and allowed for the continuous advancement of society.

  15. Oliver Hartzell

    I believe that there was at first a main reason to come to the new world, but that changed once europeans realized there were other ways to use the new world. The first main reason was to find a route through the new world to Asia. Unfortunately, this path did not exist, but what the europeans did find was a vast, large land untouched by man and native americans who were good for trading with. So then some europeans decided to start colonies for the idea of mercantilism. mercantilism is the idea that colonies provide a market for a nations manufactured goods and a source of raw materials, such as gold, it can’t produce at home, thus increasing the total wealth of the country. There were religious groups such as the Quakers, Pilgrims, and Puritans that faced religious oppression in their homeland, they saw the new world as a save haven for free practice. They came over and started their own colonies or lived in already existing colonies and set up their church systems there. There were also others who came over to just get a fresh new start in life. These were the people who were honest debtors rotting in prison or impoverished people without prospects. The people looking for a fresh start came to the georgia colony to become farmer/soldiers but were limited in their possessions and resources because alcohol, slaves, catholics, and trading with natives was banned. The leaders of the colony later on loosened their grip of power. Anyway, there was no one main reason why settlers came to the new world, there were a few. They were economic reasons, religious freedom, and gaining a new start.

  16. Amanda Burcroff

    Most of the immigrants who decided to uproot from their homes and journey to the New World may have been searching for freedom to worship their religion or money, but I believe most of them went to get a fresh start in a young land full of possibilities. With so much conflict, overpopulation, and unemployment in Europe, it would have been very appealing for people to move to a place where they may find that humanity has a better side and doesn’t have to submit to violence or poverty, such as in the Utopia of Thomas More. Part of this utopia may have been to not be persecuted for their religion, but it was more of a want for an ideal community of the individual’s religion than full religious freedom, for example as in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Virginia, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, which were mostly exclusive to their own religion. Money also played its part, for many of the colonies were started because of the principles of mercantilism and strived to be profitable even at the cost of community as in the Caribbean Islands, which had few families and a large slave population. Most of the money-seekers who came to the Americas took a significant risk moving to this uncivilized land, but the promises that this uncharted fertile territory could hold was more than the unhappy citizens of Europe could resist. The treatment of the Native Americans was another hint toward the English colonists’ intentions, for instead of trading and employing them to make money or converting them to spread their religion, the English eradicated them to preserve this ideal society they were trying to build. The French, meanwhile, were more concerned with their fur trade and in exploring new territory. The Spanish may have been more interested in money and religion, for they converted the Indians and used them, after of course they killed off the Mayans and Aztecs in search of land and riches. As the New World progressed it became more realistic in its views, but it still holds the utopian hopes, along with greed and religious devotion, that its founders held so high

  17. Matt Gallo

    I believe that the main reasons behind colonizing the new world were religious freedom and Imperial Expansion. People like Quakers, Puritans, and Separatists were banned by law to assemble because they weren’t a dominant Religion. The Protestants had the most trouble with the Catholics which eventually led to the death of their King. The Puritans had eventually escaped the walls of England and move to Holland but they were barred from Dutch craft guilds and were given poor paying jobs that they were unskilled in. So eventually they moved to the newly founded Americas where they could live free of Religious Persecution.The Quakers were mistreated in England because the had their differences with the religious beliefs of the Royal Family which led to persecution of the Quakers. The Separatists had founded their own colony: Plymouth. When these non-dominant religious groups got to the New World they had a chance to assemble and build Church’s to hold mass in.

    The Second main reason behind colonizing the New World was the Pursuit of happiness. This occurred in many forms, the first being religious freedom; being able to practice religion without persecution; which was the other main reason why the new world was colonized. The second was being able to start a whole new life. Leaving the other one behind.Some people with the stricter values created the Georgia colony which had a ban on alcohol, slaves of all races, and trading the the Native American Indians. The Colonists had gone from Religious persecution to Religious Freedom. There are other reasons why the Americas were colonized, but these two I believe host the main reason.

  18. Jeremy Ellis

    It is obvious that each group of people who ventured to the new world were looking for a better life. Although the reasons that made them leave their homelands were different, each was seeking to better themselves. For some, the incentive to come to the New World was the chance to earn more money. This was done by farming and starting new businesses. Others who had no money came and offered their services for a chance to gain land. These people were called indentured slaves. For many, this was their only chance for a new and better life for themselves and their families.

    Still, others came for religious freedom. The New World gave them a chance to worship freely with no fear of persecution. The Puritans, Quakers, Calvinists, and Jews are examples of those seeking this freedom. Most had experienced a great deal of persecution in their home countries. Those who did not want to be a part of the Church of England found life very hard. Others came because of the promise of free land. It offered them the hope of financial independence as well as allowing them certain rights, such as voting.

    Still, I believe the main reason most came was for religious and personal freedom. Both are freedoms to many people today take for granted. While the idea of a better life, financial, was also an important factor, I feel the colonists who chose to leave their native homes behind and seek a new life in a far away wilderness were truly looking for freedom. The right to worship as they please without the fear of persecution was the most important reason for the colonist to come to America.

  19. Maggie Hammond

    I believe that the main reason that people decided to risk so much and go to the New World was the lure of a better life. This idea of a new society and life attracted many people to the New World.
    The first adventurers to the New World were the Spanish, who initially discovered the Americas while searching for a route to Asia. However, the Spanish did not find a route to Asia, but soon turned their attention to the Americas when they realized the repository of gold and other natural resources that laid in the Americas. The Caribbean was quickly conquered by the Spanish, as it was the closest to Spain. This led the Spanish to have a wealth of land in the Caribbean and much of the land that would become Central America.
    The English came to the New World in hopes of economic success, which would lead to a better life. Although most of the early colonies failed and led to a loss of resources and money, the colony business soon became very successful. Moreover, as the colony business was becoming successful, Charles I came to rule. Charles I had little tolerance for any Puritans, Separatists, Quakers, and Catholics. The people who followed these religions fled to other parts of Europe or the New World in search of a place where they would not be prosecuted. Before the English moved to the New World, some lived in the Barbados and hoped to get a profit off of sugar cane. Although this was a wealthy export, the Spanish constantly attacked the English settlers, and sugar cane was a very labor intensive crop. In hope of a more tolerant area, the English in Barbados moved to the New World.
    Last, the Dutch also came to the New World in order to start new, better lives or to take advantage of the new trading opportunities that the New World brought. New Amsterdam, a Dutch colony became very successful due to its important trading exports. However, New Amsterdam was conquered by the English and later became New York.
    Some of these countries found the New World by accident, others by hard work, and both achieved what they were looking for. Although all these countries had different reasons for exploring the new world – better trading routes, religious freedom, or trading opportunities – they were all searching for a better life.

  20. Sherami Fernando

    It all comes down to one thing; more. There is no denying that sometimes, people just want more, and I think that is exactly what happened to the Europeans as they, the rest of history and no doubt the future will show; that you can’t fulfill the insatiable craving for more.

    There could be a million reasons for the Europeans need to colonize in the New World, and the greed that bred in all for money and riches is a definite possibility, alongside with the calling to spread their belief far and wide to enlighten those around them. But none of those things caught and held my attention more than the innocently simple, yet wickedly complicated obligation that seemed to burn like a fire in everyone to push their limits to the brink of insanity, just to fall back from the edge. To discover the undiscovered, and to pave a path of their footprints towards something they knew was unimaginatively bigger than they were, only to show they can, they did, and they will.

    It is carved in our genes and ingrained in our blood. It can date farther back than the first arrival of the English when King Henry VII caught wind of a vast new land full of promises for things they couldn’t even dream of yet and took that wind, letting it guide his ship across the coast while it whispered wonders in his ears. Later in 1682, William Penn sought after more land as he invaded (though peacefully) the native’s grounds, and it didn’t take long for many others to seize land as well, such as the Spanish, Dutch, and French. Their thirst for more only collided with the many others sharing the same dream, and though the drink seemed to be never ending, the cup could not be shared.

    It was simple yet complicated. It was easy yet had. It was more.

  21. Zach Van Faussien

    There are many reasons that the Europeans colonized in the Americas, but the main reason behind it is what some call “the pursuit of happiness” but really is the want of a better life. Better land, freedom of religion, and perhaps just the adventurous spirit of humans are other reasons as well.

    The new land attracted farmers and farms demand labor. This gave way to slavery, which started out as indentured slaves. Indentured slaves were given shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities in turn for their labor.

    People who came for freedom of religion like the Puritans, The Quakers, The Jews, and Calvinists all came seeking a safe haven from religious persecution.

    Others were people who just hated the their own governments or their kings. These people demonstrate the pursuit of happiness trait in humans because they were willing to risk their lives so they could have a better life. And that is the main reason for colonization in the New World.

  22. Eleni Kondak

    There really isn’t any one “main reason” as to why these people risked everything to cross over to the New World. But between all the various reasons, there are distinct patterns of why they did what they did, with no guarantee of what was waiting on the other side (if they even got there).
    There is, of course, the obvious answer that everyone thinks of: escaping the monarch. But there are other, slightly less thought of reasons like money – clearly stated in the case of the Spanish, but always sought by other parties – and escaping religious persecution, sought by people like the Separatists and the Purists, and also the prospect of a fresh start, which lots of Europeans were in desperate need of. These reasons – money, religious freedom, and a new beginning – I think are the biggest reasons why Europeans risked their lives to colonize what is now America.
    Money. People say it “makes the world go around.” And even if it doesn’t, it can certainly lure poor Europeans across an ocean with the mere whisper of a fortune. The Spanish, though originally trying to find easier routes to Asia, ended up conquering the Mayan Kingdom in search of the alleged City of Gold; although it was never found, it caused a rush of Spaniards crossing over with the hopes of gaining a fortune.
    Fleeing the religious oppression of the Old World was a big contributor to colonization. The Separatists, who first escaped to the religious tolerance in Holland, later sought out the New World when they found the Dutch a bit TOO tolerant, jeopardizing their ideas for a close-knit Christian society. Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics, too, wanted separation from the Church of England to the New World to practice their own ideas of worship without persecution.
    Lastly, I think Europeans were enticed by the idea of a fresh start in the New World. Europe was plagued with diseases, land shortages, unemployment, and political disputes, and the boiling religious conflict was just making things worse. With too little food to feed too many people added, Europeans – especially the English – had good reason to want a new beginning. Jobs were difficult to get because of the huge population density back in Europe, but in the New World, new jobs were constantly being created, and there seemed to be no danger of a land shortage with all the open terrain. The New World was the miracle they’d been praying for.
    The idea that one main reason only made Europeans put their lives in jeopardy to get to the New World, I think, isn’t rational. Every person came with their own reasons in mind, and within that cloud of reasons, the most distinct are the chance at gaining a fortune, release from religious persecution, and the opportunity for a new life.

  23. Ariel Boston

    One of the main reasons the Europeans took the risk to come to the “wilderness” of the new world because they desired freedom of religion. They wanted to worship god in their own way. The settlers thought that by leaving England they would be free to practice whatever religion they wanted, not just Catholicism. They believed that they would have an improved lifestyle without the struggle of being maltreated for not believing what the dominant religion believed. They thought they could start whatever they wanted in the New World because they were supposedly the first to get there. Another reason colonists came to America was because of greed. When the Spanish conquistadors couldn’t find a faster route to Asia, they tried to get as much wealth from the new world as they could. After the Spanish success the English felt that they could achieve the same fortune. It was believed that the new colonies would create new markets and help decrease poverty and unemployment. It was also believed that new colonies would lead to increased resources and decrease England’s need for foreign trade by allowing England to get products from its own territories, thus decreasing the amount that England paid for outside resources. This meant that England would keep their money, creating a chance for settlers to gain their own fortune and start a new, and perhaps, a better life. Those are the obvious reasons. Thinking about this question, I wondered why I would risk going to a New World. If somehow another world was found and my family had the chance to leave the United States for good, why would I go? We have so much family, a lot of connections and quite frankly, even though we may have hardships, we are happy where we are. That’s why I think there is a third reason that people took the risk of traveling to the wilderness of the New World. I think because of the fact that Europe was so bad off, they thought that maybe they could become a better nation, in the long run they may have believed that they could have enhanced the England they knew and been a better civilization from the beginning. The English settlers believed they could find happiness in the wealth and have the freedom to make their own choices.

  24. Cooper Peters-Wood

    The two reasons settlers risked the journey to settle the new world were for religious freedom and economic success. The Spanish arrived in the new world in the late 1500’s, and had great economic success. The English retaliated by establishing the Jamestown Colony in the 1600’s with the intention of making money. The Jamestown colony was slow to start, but eventually found success in Tobacco production. Although England’s first colony was created with the intent to make money, many colonies were settled with the purpose of religious freedom. For instance, the separatist scrooby left England for Holland, and later left Holland dew to religious discrimination. The scrooby were granted permission by the Virginia Company, ( a company designed to aid in trade between the new world and other parts of the word, another factor in England’s bid to increase wealth), to travel to the new world, and from the king insurance that they would not be bothered. The scrooby, (also known as the pilgrims), were the first settlers to travel to the new world to gain religious freedom. Other religious groups that traveled to the new world were the Quakers and Catholics. The Quakers established the colony of Pennsylvania with the intention on creation a prosperous economy boosting colony, along with a place where they would not be discriminated against. The colonies also had a large population of African slave labor to aid in the production of goods. Slavery was widely used in the Caribbean, and arrives in the colonies, largely in South Carolina to increase production and institute a cheap labor force. The colonies were settled for two main reasons. First was for economic benefit, which eventually resulted in the arrival of slaves to increase productivity. The second reason was religious acceptance, which is seen through the establishment of many colonies ( including Plymouth by the pilgrims, and Pennsylvania by the Quakers), by settlers seeking religious freedom.

  25. Sara Keebler

    I believe that there are two main reasons that the Europeans risked their lives to come to this wilderness. One reason was to have a better life for their families then and their future families. They came for multiple reasons including religious freedom and wealth. With coming to the New World they had the chance to start over and try to have the life that they had always wanted but could never achieve living in Europe. The government there was strict about almost everything you can think of. Coming to the New World would be a clean slate for them. They would be able to have the chance to be economically successful, something they wouldn’t have the chance to be if they had stayed in Europe. But other than the economic side of living in Europe there were also the tensions between the different religious groups that was growing. Coming to the New World where it was only a small number of people compared to the millions living in Europe you could worship as you wished without having a million pairs of eyes watching on you to see if you were following the kings orders. 

    The second reason I believe that the Europeans risked their lives to come to this wilderness was to start a colony that they would be able to rule how they wanted. This reason is based on the wealthy settlers. The wealthy settlers all wanted to get a charter from the king allowing them to claim the land in the New World. I believe that they wanted this charter so that they could become more powerful and economically successful. Controlling the new land would allow them to control who lived in the land, what was being brought in and out of the land, and the financial status of it. An example of a wealthy settler who controlled his land would be James Oglethorpe. He had a vision for Georgia and went through with it. The vision included limiting the size of land holdings, excluded Africans that were free or slaves, prohibited rum, strictly regulated trade with Indians, and excluded Catholics. 

    Although the reasons are based on entirely different groups of people, the groups both wanted something that could only come in the New World. And that is why I believe those are the main reasons for Europeans coming to the New World.

  26. Shashank R.

    Although there are Several reasons why settlers from across the globe came to America, All reasons fall under the category of Opportunity. The land which they sought refuge to was a Land of Opportunity. Settlers had the Opportunity to practice their own religion as they wished. Also the Opportunity or chance at a new life. One of the most popular reasons was the economic value or gamble that many settlers took and endured until tobacco was cultivated and sold as a lucrative crop. The Risk at the time was worth it to many as they were perceived in a negative way before or were struggling to get by. This risk they took was all for the benefit of themselves and they wanted a chance at something new. The Europeans that ventured here came with their own reasons and motives but nearly if Not all fall under the category of the CHANCE or opportunity of something great. The people who sought religious refuge were seeking for a safe haven where they could practice their own religion freely and with the Persecution in their homelands the risk was worth the taking. All in all people that emigrated from their countries to take a leap of faith into a unsure world and life were brave and are the basis in which this country was founded…. To seek opportunity and a better life.

  27. Sarah Fried

    The main reasons that Europeans risked their lives and families to
    come to the New World was for wealth and religious freedom. The
    Puritans that journeyed to America on the mayflower came for religious
    freedom that stayed within the bounds of their own religion. The
    Puritans had initially moved to Holland but didn’t like that it wasn’t
    a close-knit Christian community. Many other settlers moved for their
    religion too, like the Quakers, Separatists, and Catholics. America
    was a land full of new opportunities and it held many raw materials
    that weren’t found in England such as Sugar and Gold. Wealthy
    landowners grew even richer as they figured out the ways of the land
    through natives. As the backbreaking labor in the Caribbean’s grew too
    much for whites they brought Africans over to do it and became
    incredibly rich in the process. Each settler had a different reason
    for why they came but the main reason was wealth. The European
    government wanted to increase their income with the use of the
    mercantilism principles and only trade within themselves. The kings
    greed is what pushed for the different companies to travel to the new
    world and find and grow raw materials that would only be traded to
    England. Some traders realized that there wasn’t a market in England
    for all that they had to sell and they began to trade to other
    countries to become rich. As more and more settlers came to America,
    they began to bring their families and develop an entirely new life
    and civilization. The purpose of the kings charters and colonization
    was money and none of the colonists would have settled in the New
    World without that initial greed.

  28. Bridget LePine

    There are several reasons as to why the Europeans wanted to colonize in America. I think the main reason was that the Europeans wanted an overall better life. Some contributing factors to having this better life in America were; freedom of religion, better land for cultivation, and a different government.
    Some Europeans traveled to America for their freedom of religion. The Quakers, Jews, Calvinists, and Puritans came to America looking for a safe place to practice their religion, without having to fear religious persecution.
    The new American land was pretty much untouched; this was appealing to many famers. The land was great for having farms, growing crops, and raising cattle. The farms demanded labor, and eventually the colonists needed more help. This is where the indentured slaves came in. The indentured slaves didn’t live the most “glamorous” lifestyle, but were given food, shelter, and clothes for their labor.
    Other Europeans moved to America to get away from the English government, and being ruled by Kings/Queens. America wasn’t going to live under rule by a King/Queen, and to many European travelers that was very appealing. America was going to have a government based more so on democracy, the free and equal representation of people.
    All three of those factors contributed to a better life for Europeans. That is why I think many Europeans wanted to come to America, to establish a new and better life in the colonies, where they could practice any religion, make a successful living in farming, and live under democracy.

  29. Cameron_S.

    I think the main reason for the colonization changed through the different waves of groups coming over the years. First the Spanish came looking for a better route to Asia, which is fueled economically. The Puritans, Quakers and Separatists came so they could worship freely, but later a group called the Massachusetts Bay Company broke of form the main Puritan group to strike it rich by taking advantage of the political mess, the Massachusetts Bay Company even though they were already in america decided to leave their settlement for money. Next the British came, leaving the uncomfortable climate to make money from farming in a much more comfortable climate. This British group was probably not too worried about the danger of america, there was already settlements there. There was also Georgia founded by James Oglethorpe, an English General and a member of parliament, which was interested in the economic benefits. Soon the Dutch came wanting a little slice of these “riches” in colonial america.
    I don’t believe there is one main reason for why these people risked all that they had to come to america, but I do believe that there was a recurring motive, money, although not all the religious groups wanted economic success some did. Also everyone likes a second chance, a sliver of hope for a better life, huge riches all of these america could grant. The oppressed Puritans, Quakers and Separatists were being granted a huge opportunity to start again without harassment. The British were made up of many British military leaders, probably craving adventure and riches, to become Heroes and vastly rich. Also the British middle class were lured in by the promised wealth waiting for them.

  30. Alayna Brasch

    I think the Europeans came here to see if it would benefit them in the long run. There were probably many rumors and stories of what other places would be like other than Europe, and they were curious to see what it was really like. Some specific reasons they came here were to see if they could find different types of food or make bigger businesses, but the main goal was probably to see if they could become richer by moving to a new land. And of course there’s the reason that some people didn’t like that their religion wasn’t accepted and they left to be able to worship in peace. Another possibility is that some of the European’s could have been unhappy with their king or government, or unhappy with the life they were living, and moved to see if they could change that.
    Moving to the new world at this time was very dangerous, and many people died on the first several trips there, but for some it was their last chance at a new, better life. They got to experience new food, new climate, and even new people (Native Americans). It was a totally new experience for them, thus a totally new life too.
    Because of the Europeans curiosity, and desperation for a new life, they left their homes in Europe and came to America and created new lives for themselves. With their new lives came new land and eventually a new nation that Americans call home today.

  31. Jenna Weed

    I believe the main reason European colonists came to America because they were seeking a change in their boring, outdated way of life. Before colonization, life in Europe had never drastically changed. The same powerful families reigned over each individual country, the same poor peasant families struggled to get a meal on the table, and life was hard. So, when the colonists came to the Americas, they also came with power and wealth in mind. When they first arrived in the New World, they were attracted to the newness and fresh start it promised, compared to their ruined Old World, full of inequities and flaws. It took almost a year before they were ready to settle down in the New World. European rival countries also wanted to expand their empires hoping to become the leading world power. The Spanish found the New World first in search of another route to Asia for spices and other essential goods. Instead, they struck rich and found gold and silver in the Americas. The English followed hoping to find such riches themselves. They were unsuccessful at finding gold but instead built highly profitable tobacco plantations for the growing industry in Europe. Mercantilism also played a big role in convincing European countries colonization would be beneficial to the countries economic success and power. The goods produced in colonies could replace the need of importing goods from other rival European and Asian countries. Also, many religious groups, such as the Quakers, Separatists, and Puritans, came to the New World seeking religious freedom. When European governments began forcing its citizens to worship one religion, some groups rebelled for the right to worship their own religion. All in all, European colonists came to America in search of a remarkable change.

  32. Melissa Hall

    I believe that the main reason the Europeans left their old life and risked everything they had, to travel to the place of wilderness known as the “new world” was because they needed a new start and a better life. There are many different definitions for the phrase “a better life”, and it all differs on the person. For example a better life for some Europeans may of meant more wealth. To others, it could of meant religious freedom.

    Many English settlers were attracted to the New World because of its newness, and how it was very different from their old troubled land. America felt like a place where they could start new without the flaws and problems of the Old World getting in the way. The great majority of European immigrants were in search of economic opportunity. The commercial aspect was the cause for the increases in migration over time, as the demand for labor in the New World drew more and more settlers from the Old World. Also, new religious ideas and movements were spreading to the New World and English settlers were glad to see that they could have religious freedom. As well as religion, the phrase “a better life” had to deal with wealth. For example, the first successful English settlement was at Jamestown, Virginia where the settlers were there to make money and to have wealth. This shows that they were unhappy with the Old World and were not successful making money there. In the end, the main reason Europeans were able to leave their old life and risk everything was because they had hope that the New World would help them become more successful and cause them to have “ a better life”. The interesting part in this is that not all Europeans were exactly coming to America for the same “better life”. Different people had different needs and wants, but all had the same hope of changing their lives, for the better.

  33. J'Laan Pittman

    I believe that the Europeans wanted to come to the Americas was their incessant greed. It is no secret that the European countries wanted to grow wealthy. With completion stiff in Europe, They sailed abroad. Many of the first colonies were founded under the expectation that they would find a new money source. Spain sent Columbus to look for wealth to bring back to Spain. When he returned with little riches, he used the natives and the royal’s greed against them so they would fund his second journey. The English set out later wanting in on Spain’s new wealth. The first successful town was tasked with keeping England happy by searching for gold. This took up much of their time and lives. They never found any however, only goods to export. Many religious groups, such as the Puritans and Quakers, came seeking religious freedom. However their journeys had to be funded. The rich would fund them under the expectation of goods to sell. Some wanted to venture out of the comfort zones for more space. Still, their journeys were funded by those who wished to see a profit. Soon all of Europe was swarming the Americas for wealth. Though every person wanted to venture abroad foe a separate reason, behind it all was always a rich donor looking to only expand his own wealth. The people of Europe didn’t seem to mind the extra work. They had so much desire for their own causes, that they accepted the terms. Money as corrupt as it is can still be the root of great things.

  34. Ethan Carrick

    I believe that the Europeans came here for two reasons, first, being able to worship God in their own way and second, for wealth from the land. One must remember that the religion that was followed by most Europeans was Roman Catholicism, but in 1529 after a long dispute between King Henry VIII and the pope separated England’s ties with the Catholic Church. Henry became the head of Christian faith in the country, and after divorce with his wife and death, his daughter Mary became Queen. She persecuted all of the non Catholics by execution. After her death, her half-sister Elizabeth broke the ties with the Catholic Church that Mary had created and called the official religion the Church of England. Even though the Catholic Church was separated from England, many Catholics were still allied with the pope, but another group of Christians called Puritans started to worshiped in their own congregations and rejected the English laws about the outlawing of unauthorized religious meetings and the payment of taxes to support the Catholic Church. After Elizabeth’s death James I became the king and favoring Catholics, and despising the puritans, gave the Catholics grants and charters, while the puritans were taxed beyond comprehension. Therefore there had to be some way to get away from many years of persecution, and that was to leave the country and start anew.
    The second reason of why I believe the Europeans came to America was for wealth. Recall that before the Europeans explored across the ocean, the Spanish were making headway. They had already discovered gold by the time the Europeans thought about sailing to the “New World”. So think, if there were untold riches right across the ocean wouldn’t you go and claim it before it was all gone? Unfortunately the Europeans didn’t find what they were looking for, but in later years they began making a fortune out of tobacco and many other crops that they discovered.

  35. Aaron Walt

    The colonists came to America simply in search of a better life for themselves and their families. They needed better lives for many reasons; including more religious tolerance, escaping crimes they committed and in hopes of making more money. Their were many religious groups that were being discriminated against and even executed in Europe. They started new congregations in the new world where they hoped all religions were tolerated. Unfortunately, some of the colonies still didn’t allow religious groups like the Puritans to pray freely. So more tolerant colonies like Carolina became very appealing to these groups which is why the flourished quickly. Another common group of people that came to the colonies were fleeing criminals. Most of them were people that owe debts to the king they could not pay. So, they fled their country and came to America for a fresh start. The thing most early immigrants had in common was that they were in poverty. In England, they were poor working class people that could hardly provide for their families. They arrived in the colonies to get new land and new jobs as farmers in a community where nobody was an outcast.

  36. Aliyah McIlwain

    European’s came to the New World for many reasons. Those reasons are governmental stability (eventually), religious freedom, and wealth.
    Europeans came for a stable government and religious freedom. Throughout the formation of the colonies the British government was very unstable. The religion of the Church of England changed several times and was frequently in question(as it was under James II who most thought was going to make the church Catholic, until his daughter Mary and her husband William took the crown and clarified their position as Protestants) . King Charles I in 1629 suspended use of parliament and ruled in absolute monarch, further exposing the dissent of the English government. The colonist also wished for religious freedom, free from oppression. Separationists, Quakers, Protestants, and Catholics all wished for a place of their own free from oppression and isolation, where they could live and work in peace.
    Many Europeans also looked to the New World for land and wealth. As they discovered the plentiful valuable natural resources and the land itself they started to cultivate the land with cash crops like tobacco in Jamestown, rice in the Carolinas, and sugar cane in the Caribbean. They also made profit from the French and Indian fur trade, and trading with other countries. Europeans also profited from the sale of land itself. Many people may have also fled Europe as a result of overpopulation and a shortage of jobs.
    Overall Europeans came to the New World in search for a new life of freedom, wealth, and endless possibilities.

  37. Isabella Gutierrez

    I believe there are a few reasons main reasons why the europeans colonized in america. The first was because they wanted religious freedom. Many religious people relocated to the new world such as the quakers separatists and catholics. These religious groups wanted to be free to worship as they pleased without being governed harshly. They could be peaceful and all practice their religions in their own ways equally. another reason was that in their new lives they could find new ways to live and work as well. They could discover new jobs. The new world was very prosperous and they could thrive and become landowners. There was lots of new land that they could grow important crops on such as sugar. This did however require slaves to do the labor. However they were given food and shelter for their work. Another reason was government. There lives no longer needed to be ruled by the horrible government back in england. They no longer had to pay taxes or be ruled by a king.Their new government could be run by the people. These are a few reasons why the europeans moved to the new world. This new land was much more appealing and led settlers to live a better life in the end.

  38. Isabelle Molnar

    The cause for many radical acts made throughout human history has been the pursuit for freedom. Wild (and often violent) protests, bombings, wars, and of course, sailing across uncharted oceans and landing on uncharted wilderness. These early settlers going to America risked seasickness, unknown diseases and spending most of their money on a ship fare to a world free of suppression of religions, government and over population. European cities, and in English ones especially, were dirty, smelly, contaminated and overpopulated. Inside and outside of cities, if you weren’t extremely rich, you job was most likely awful. Religious freedom was nonexistent, and people went through long hours of internally rolling their eyes and sighing quietly whilst being forced to listen to and abide by things many people didn’t believe in. Freedom is what these people needed and dreamed of, so they gathered as many belongings and family members as possible and sailed off to a promising New World.
    Getting sick over the side of the boat wasn’t so bad if you simply dreamt the American Dream: your family starting their own large, inexpensive farm rich with resources. Your little community building a small church where you could freely practice your religion without the constant fear of being executed by the king for not abiding by the Church of England. Fresh air, birds soaring through the sky, wild animals practically waiting for you to cook them up for supper in your quaint little cottage. This is what was advertised, and believed, by these eager settlers, and to people who had almost nothing; it was definitely worth the risks and sacrifices made.
    Although the Spanish conquistadors and explorers had slightly different intentions and tactics, they were looking for freedom as well. There were rumors of riches that could make you practically royalty. With wealth comes power and with power comes freedom. Freedom is something strived for by most humans, and two whole continents of land, treasures and natural recourses sounded like a prime way to obtain it.

  39. Alex

    I think that some of the reasons people would risk there whole crews life to come to some unknown land has to really be just for greed, all they want is more money. With money comes power. The Spanish arent really a good argument for this, because they were in search of a trade route to make the journey back and forth from indian not take so long, not a chunk of land to exploit and get tons of gold from it. I belive they only did that because they were here, and why make there voyage give them nothing, right. Now Jamestown, what they did is that they came to the new world looking specifically for gold and money, which they didnt find. While they were here though they had found a new crop called tobacco that had earned them a decent amount of money. While there are a few exeptions to my theory like the puritans who came here to worship god away from the christians in Britan. Which eventually lead to meetting new friends (the indians) and the first Thanksgiving. The English men from barbados were in search of wealth too at the cost of others as they heard that there was going to be territory that could sustain rice crop they had imeadiatly moved there plantation’s to the carolinas most of them being more south in the hotter weather. Georgia was then meant to be for Farming wasnt suposed to be that important but then eventually turned it to this massive slave haven. Where more then half the population was slaves. When all of the land was over croweded with slaves and plantations they and taken out new amsterdam seperating two parts of the English colonies. This area was eventually turned into New York were there was a colorfull population blend that was un-usual for that time era.

    So what I think I’m getting at here is that not all of the reasons for coming to the new world was for greed, but most of them were. Making corrupt colonies and failing in some attempts.

  40. Elizabeth Lohr

    I believe there were many reasons for the colonization of the New World: to start a new life, to gain religious freedom, and to increase the nation’s wealth. One of the main motives behind the lure to the New World was its freshness. This was especially appealing because of the foil of European countries, particularly England; where things were not quite as sunny. The idea of “the utopian society” comes to mind; the English could voyage to the New World and create this perfect, little society without the deficiency of the old world. The ideal community would not have the social and economic woes of England. People living in Tudor, England dealt with anguish from regular and costly European wars, lavish religious discord, and most importantly, a cruel financial alteration of the countryside. Wool was becoming popular and landowners decided to turn their farms into pastures for sheep. But the land that was once worked by serfs and rent-paying occupants were used for sheep and taken away from the farmers. Since there was barley any more farmland, famine was abundant in England. Mercantilism, which stated that the goal of economic activity should be to increase a nation’s total wealth and one nation could only develop at the cost of another, was another factor in colonization. Obtaining colonies seemed a good approach to mercantilism because the colonies could become a source of goods that a country would usually be buying from another nation. The Europeans were racing each other to see who could be the first to grasp the Natural Resources found in the New World such as corn, fur and tobacco. Some people turned to the New World because they wished to worship how they pleased. For example, the Puritans (obtained their name because they wished to “purify” the church) wanted to abridge the Anglican forms of worship, diminish the power of the bishops and alter the local clergy, who had little interest in theology. Some Puritans wished the Church would be more spiritual. They were becoming increasingly frustrated with the leaders refusing their demands. As a result, the New World was becoming a welcoming place to people such as Puritans, Separatists, Quakers, and Catholics. The New World was a place for new opportunities. Why people were traveling there really depends on their motive: religious freedom, increasing the nation’s wealth or to start a new and better life.

  41. Ryan Jezierski

    I think the main reason that the European settlers risked their lives to come to a place that they’ve never been to before is because most of the settlers were most likely looking for an escape from their old lives, looking to lead new, and better ones, where everything wasn’t as strict and you weren’t being watched under the king’s orders. Another reason I believe that they had left was to find better wealth and more freedom for religion because their government wouldn’t allow them to practice their own religion as to how strict they were.

    While they Europeans settles in the New World, they found that the land was good, and they could work on the fields. After realizing that the land was hard to work on, slaves came into play. They had bought slaves, but not how we know them. They would clothe them, feed them, give them shelter, and other things in return for their labor.

    Another reason for the European settlers risked their lives was to try and create a new land where they could do things as they pleased. The more “wealthy” settlers had asked the king if they could claim the land of the New World for their own, being able to maintain the finances, and who came and left the land.

    I believe that the main reason European settlers came to the New World was that they were looking for a change from their old lives, and wanting to see if the grass is really greener on the other side.

  42. William Schwartz

    I think their were many reasons why people would risk their life to come to the New World, such as wealth, freedom, or a chance to start anew. I think the main one though is wealth, throughout all of his history humans have done extraordinary things for money, and this is no different. Many of the proprietors of the colonies were not looking to create a new society, they were just looking to make a profit, such as in Barbados, where most of the landowners left the land to their overseers and went back to Europe. Even most of the poorer people were just trying to get out of their debt, like the impoverished debtors that settled Georgia. Even in the first successful settlement of Jamestown, the settlers were just trying to strike it rich like the Spanish did before them. And although wealth is the main reason, freedom, of religion in particular, comes in a close second. In the 17th century many religious groups, such as the Puritans and Quakers were being persecuted in Europe. They sought for refuge in the New World and created their own colonies in New England and Pennsylvania. These groups of people risked their families lives to come to America and left everything they knew behind, this shows me how much the freedom of religion caused people to come to the New World. Many people also were just looking for a chance to start anew, such as the many indentured servants that came to the colonies before the slave trade. Also many poor tradesman and artisans came to the New World looking for a new start in places like Georgia and the Carolinas.

  43. Will Briggs

    While there were multiple reasons for coming to the New World, money, land, and religious freedom, the main reason for any large settlement in a uncultivated land, is money. The Jamestown settlers came for money, and although the Separatists, Quakers, and Puritans went for freedom, they were not the majority. The settlers in the South and Caribbean realized the enormous cash crop they found (Sugar and Tobacco). Along with that, just to cultivate the crop, they started bringing slaves over which would become the largest business in America for the next 150 years.
    This movement of people could be compared to the California Gold Rush. People thought they could get rich quick, so they rushed off risking life and limb.

  44. Ben Kue

    Since the dawn of time, man has strived to innovate, and to improve. From Rembrandt to Henry Ford to Eli Whitney, they were all innovators in their own ways, all pioneers in their art. Was it for fame, glory, or maybe even bragging rights? Why did these individuals strive to create something new or to improve on things? The reason may never be known. When the first permanent English settlement, Jamestown, was founded in 1607, they sought religious freedom. But that was not nearly the whole reason. Like those before the settlers, they weren’t the first ones there. Henry Ford didn’t invent the assembly line, he just improved it. The same goes for the settlers. They certainly weren’t the first ones to discover this “New World”, and neither were the Spanish. The first European to explore the land was a Norse Explorer by the name of Leif Ericson. Even though the English weren’t the first, they did accomplish something momentous.
    The settlers moved to the New World to improve their lives. Dreams of a new life, free to worship whomever and whatever you wanted. This was one of the main driving factors to settle in the new World. When the Puritan Separatists came over, they wrote a document known as the Mayflower Compact. The Mayflower Compact detailed how things should be conducted in this new world. Just like the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact was created because someone or a group of people thought there was a better way to run things than the current system.
    Religious freedom was the driving force of the colonization, but to create a society that was fairer and more just than what was present in Great Britain was their real goal.

  45. connor phillips

    I believe that there are many reasons why people left for the new worlds and not just one main reason. Some reasons they would think this is because some parts of Europe didn’t allow religious freedom and that restricted what some of the people believed. Another reason that people would move to the new world is for wealth and money purposes. Some people saw the new world as a place filled with many items like gold and copper and they thought they could make their fortune there. They thought that they’d have a better chance of making money there than they would in Europe. Yet another reason they would move there is because some people thought of the new world as a second chance. They might of screwed up in Europe or England and be poor or homeless and they thought that going to the new world could be an opportunity to get their life back on track. People would start to think that living in the wilderness and making a new town was actually going to be better than living in whatever social class they had now. Not all of the people who moved there were poor, some were actually rich. I believe the reason that wealthy class people might have wanted to move their because it would give them power. I believe they would receive power because if they moved their they could be a governor or mayor of a new colony and that they could make even more money off their new town or settlement. The last reason I believe that people might have wanted to move to the new world is because of overpopulation. Some parts of Europe might have been too overpopulated with people and due to this it might of made people want to relocate to a less crowded population. Although I personally wouldn’t choose to go to the new world these ideas might have been the reasoning behind why people left for the new world.

  46. Kelsey Nowak

    There can’t really be any main reason for why the colonists risked their lives to go to live in the New World. Everyone had different reasons which made the first colonies so diverse from one another. At first however, colonists were in it for the promises of money and land. The Jamestown colonists were hoping to hit gold and bring in the riches like the Spanish had before them. Soon, they found out they could make a considerable profit from cultivating tobacco. As more people heard of the opportunities the New World presented, the more people who decided to leave the Old World. The promises of land by the headright system at first offered a way to escape religious turmoil, to start anew, and just to have the promise of land and that you were going to a better place altogether. Later, as new settlers started to arrive in the masses, there were specific religious groups who wanted a better place to worship and not fear religious intolerance. These religious groups, the Separatists, Puritans, and the Quakers made a large impact in the New World. They may have not been very tolerant of each other, but they knew that they had a place to go. Some colonists even came from the Caribbean moving to the Carolinas to start plantations, bringing along slaves. All in all, the reasons for people to move and risk their lives to live in the New World were various. People were drawn to the opportunities that were presented. The reasons were for adventure, money, land, religious tolerance, and altogether for the pursuit of happiness.

  47. Darab Khan

    The main reason that people came to colonize the new world was to get an upper hand in life or just improve them. If you were doing great where you lived would you want to risk moving overseas to an unexplored, potentially hazardous land. You probably wouldn’t. The only reason you would think of doing this was if you had problems where you lived and wanted more out of life. In the new world you had a chance at exactly what you were looking for. If you were persecuted for practicing a religion banned in your country you would want to leave and go to a place offering religious freedom. For example the Separatists, they wanted to worship as they pleased in their own congregations, but couldn’t due to English law which did not allow unauthorized religious meetings. Another reason was that there were a lot of people struggling financially in Europe. The reason for this was simply that Europe was getting overpopulated. It didn’t provide enough jobs and didn’t have enough land to go around even for more farmers. Hakluyt’s reason for the establishment of English colonies was to serve as a source of raw material and a market for English exports. This in turn would build England’s wealth. It’s true that this would help out the economy England but it would greatly help anyone who worked there. To get the raw materials you would need a lot a lot of workers. A lot of new jobs were being created in the new world and it was much under populated. Another big reason was greed. The rich even though they didn’t need it also wanted to further improve their lives. They saw the untapped natural resources (gold in particular) and wanted in. They knew they could profit off of the resources and become wealthier. Whole nations wanted to improve their economy to have more power over their neighboring countries. For example Spain was one of the colonizers in the new world. As their resources grew so did their power over countries such as England and France. So then they sent over colonizers to get more resources and the upper hand on Spain and other countries. So everyone wanted to get the upper hand, whether it was one landless farmer without land or a whole nation with fewer resources than another. Everyone wanted to get ahead, and the new world had the resources, land, and freedom.

  48. Meredith Hawkins

    I think that each individual group of settlers had their own reasons for coming on the risky venture to the New World. However, the Europeans all shared the common thought of a better way of life and more freedom then they ever would have had before. The virgin grounds and soil provided good territory for mining and a positive potential profit to start new lives and create a new community. Some were enticed by the religious benefits. By escaping their homelands settlers, like the Quakers and Cathliocs, were free to express their faith and seperate beliefs without being forced to think a certain way, or occur the persecution that the Old World carried by not accepting religions other than that of the general population. People who came from Barbados to the New World were simply seeking a more comfortable place to live. The climate they were escaping was hot and humid year round and the climate they were coming into provided more variety and better conditions for food growth. One of the main reasons why settlers chose to come to America was for an improved economic society. The fertile soil was helpful for the wealthy plantaion owners, for they could use slaves and produce products such as cotton and tobacco. With the uprising of a New World came the high demand for jobs and workers that other European countires simply couldn’t provide. The poor had a better chance to increase their standard of living and provide a better family enviroment. I believe that the Europeans took the gutsy move in coming to the New World because they recognized the chance of religious freedom and economical opportunities.

  49. Anna Daugherty

    I believe the reason countless men and women would travel miles and miles out into the unknown was to feel independent, to have a new sense of freedom, to not be tied down. These men and women, I feel were all craving something that they had never felt before. Whether it is for religious reasons or for money. Imagine that you were a Separatist, and for years you had watched your family members or friends imprisoned or executed for what they believe in. All you were living off was a dream that one day you wouldn’t have to live in fear. That you could celebrate your beliefs with friends and family somewhere safe. All you have ever wanted was to spread the gospel of Christ and worship without fear. How would you feel? One could imagine that you would feel stuck. Who wants to feel stuck their whole life when there is a New World out there where everything you had ever hoped for was possible. Feelings like that could drive you to risk everything in the realization that your dreams of religious freedom could be obtained. I feel that in a situation such as this a person would go to great lengths (in this case sailing across a sea to an unknown wilderness) to feel free, to feel safe.
    I think another reason why people wanted to travel great treacherous distances, was for the hope the glory and the pride that they could become rich. For example, why would you even consider traveling to the New World in 1607 (when no other colonies were even there yet) to set up Jamestown? You wouldn’t know what to expect, all you knew was that a whole century earlier the Spanish had made money off of this land. The reason I believe this was that they had dreams of riches beyond their imagination. I mean wouldn’t you travel across the see if there was a chance that you could discover something new and become rich?
    But, no matter what you came looking for, I believe that all had come for a sense of freedom. A freedom to practice your religion, a freedom to make a fortune, and a freedom to start over. And what led everyone to the New World? I believe it was their dreams and hopes for a new life.

  50. Marta Plumhoff

    People risked their lives coming to the New World because they were not happy with something in their respective homelands. Whether it was poverty, religious persecution, boredom or whatever else might have inspired each individual to leave the Old World, they all did it in pursuit of bettering their own lives, or the lives of those who followed them.
    Spanish conquistadors, the settlers at Jamestown, and many others went to colonize the Americas in hope of finding riches and bettering their wealth and prosperity. The Spanish explorers hunted to find a shorter route to Asia, to decrease trading time and increase capitol. Although they did not find the passage, they settled for large extractions of silver and gold. The colonist of Jamestown sought to follow in the conquistadors footsteps; they also failed in completing their original goal, but gained wealth through something else: tobacco.
    Other colonies in the New World were created by religious groups, like the Quakers, the Puritans, and the Separatists, in search of a better place of worship that was free of persecution. In order for the individuals in these groups to create better lives for themselves, they need to create a safe haven of worship. In establishing a community of their own religious worship, each group not only ensured the safety and well-being of their own lives and religious engagements, but also for their descendants and followers.
    Each person left the normalcy of the Old World in search of different things, such as fortune, religious freedom, ethnic liberty, or quality living conditions. But each of these aspects was a way for people to better their lives, which is why that is the basic reason for people to colonize the New World.

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