Exploration and Colonization 1450-1763
Explorations started because there was a profitable trade in spices from Asia, and explorers were in search of trade routes in the Far East.
-Discovery of continents on the Western Hemisphere was in large part due to the explorations launched by Spain.
-Other countries rivaled Spain in explorations, such as Portugal, France, the Netherlands and England.
-England would dominate settlements in North America through the founding and expansion of the thirteen original colonies.
-Limited government, representation, and the rights of Englishmen guaranteed by a bill of rights was the basis of the colonies governing system.
The openings of the New World was associated with the Age of Discovery
European explorers, in search of trade routes to Asia, discovered a new continent
Age of Discovery resulted in renewed European rivalry
Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, France and Europe competed for land
England developed permanent colonies in north america
Geographic diversity helped create distinct economic regions
New England colonies → shipbuilding and commerce
middle colonies → farming and commerce
southern colonies → tobacco, cotton, and slavery
English colonies began to develop a self government
The house of burgess (1619) → early colonial attempt at representative self government
the mayflower compact (1620) → basis for government by the consent of the governed
colonists demanded their rights as englishmen
The population of the colonies started to increase
families of ten or more were common
steady immigration from abroad increased the overall population
Europeans (immigrants) and Africans (slaves) were the major population groups
Idea of free public education started in the colonies
Class distinctions were less rigid than in England, strong middle class emerged
Most prevalent religion in the colonies was Protestant
a single established church was not practical in America
decline of Puritanism → greater religious tolerance