Travelers and Migrants

Introduction

• Migration Patterns: Significant European migration to America occurred during the 17th century, with English colonies notably relying less on Indigenous labor and more on European settlers.

• Economic and Social Motivations: Overpopulation and unemployment in England encouraged migration to relieve domestic pressures and benefit economically from colonial resources.

Theories of Colonization

• Richard Hakluyt: A pivotal figure in promoting English colonization, Hakluyt argued for the establishment of English communities overseas to alleviate population pressures at home and bring economic benefits without relying on the state for funding.

• A Discourse on Western Planting: A persuasive document aimed at Queen Elizabeth I, advocating for colonization not just for economic benefits but also as a means of extending English societal and cultural structures to the Americas.

Internal and External Migration

• London Port Register (1635): Recorded the departure of 4,700 people to the colonies, primarily young men seeking opportunities in Virginia and the Caribbean.

• Economic Disparities: Stories like William Booth's highlight the economic motivations behind migration, particularly among younger sons non-inheriting under the system of primogeniture.

Servant Migration

• Indentured Servitude: Young men and sometimes families would bind themselves to work for a period (typically seven years) in exchange for passage to the colonies, after which they received "freedom dues" to start their own lives, albeit often under harsh conditions.

• Living Conditions and Survival: Many indentured servants struggled to survive the harsh conditions and diseases like "seasoning" that claimed many lives before they could fulfill their terms.

The Puritan Diaspora

• Religious Motivations: Groups like the Puritans migrated to practice their faith freely, significantly shaping the cultural and social landscape of places like New England, which differed markedly in governance and religious practice from England.

• Richard Mather and Religious Conflict: Highlighted the religious motivations behind some migrations, contrasting with economic motivations of others.

French Non-Migration

• Challenges in French Colonies: Despite similar colonial ambitions, French colonies like New France faced significant challenges in attracting settlers due to fears stoked by reports of harsh conditions and conflicts with Indigenous peoples, as documented in "Jesuit Relations."

Conclusion

Divergent Development: The English colonies developed into vibrant economic and social extensions of England, characterized by significant English settlement and a self-reproducing population, unlike the French colonies which struggled with population growth and settler retention.