How Did Religion Influence English Colonization

Asking which factor such as, religion or economics, is most influential to English colonization in North America is like saying “which is more important, oxygen or water”? Some would personally favor one or the other, and one might be of great importance in certain circumstances, but in the end they are inextricably linked and ascribing superior importance to one would not be necessarily impossible but very labored because we can’t quantify the effects of either. I presume that the answer of which had more impact, religious or economic factors in the English colonization in North America depends on how closely you look and on the time period. Therefore, in very broad terms religion was there and making an influence yet, economics were more

practical in and making a much more prestige by mercantilism, triangular trade, and London Company.

Primary, mercantilism was present during formation of English colonization in North America.

It had holds that a nation or an empire could build wealth and power by developing industries and exporting manufactured goods in exchange for gold and silver. While mercantilism was changing the economy, religion was arising and causing churches to avail. Mercantilism brought more than social life. It brought agriculture, development of industry, and money for investment was abundant. It encouraged monarchs to minimize imports from rival empires and build wealth in form of gold and silver. This caused vast changes to English colonization in North America by causing more than 90% of colonist living and working on farms and plantations. Religious factors had puritans and some later groups fleeing to American colonies to escape religion persecutions and restrictions. Same as mercantilism was bringing people to North American forming English colonization. For all that, mercantilism had offered different strengths to the empire as stated

above.

Alongside, triangular trade had also played a part of the formation by having enslaved Africans come to the Americas as part of a three-part voyage. This benefitted the economy by acquiring raw materials that would help form the colony. The trade pattern consisted of England, its colonies and West Africa. First, British ships loaded with manufactured goods shipped to Africa’s west coast. They swapped British manufactures, such as guns and cloth for enslaved Africans. Next the traders would carry enslaved Africans to the American colonies where they then sold the slaves for raw material, being sugar, timber, and tobacco. After everything the traders then went back to Europe. To me this development felt similar to the type of effect the Great Awakening had on the formation. The Great Awakening had the aspect of powerful preachers traveling from town to town giving sermons that were emotional and touched listeners. Even thousands of people came to listen to these powerful speakers just to be inspired. It did have a philosophical effect on colonies and led to churches being packed with inspired people. Triangular trade brought raw materials that I judged to be the most needed point in the formation of the English colonization in North America. The Great Awakening did bring a sense of togetherness but triangular trade brought more rational effects to this development.

In economic terms, the growth of the English population and its wars with other nations taxed national resources, particularly lumber and food.

Colonization would not only address these issues, but strike at Spanish power as well. This led to the formation of the London Company (also known as the Virginia Company) which held a royal charter to establish and govern colonies in North America. It should be noted that virtually all other colonists, including the famed Puritans and Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution, operated under the domain of these royal charters as well. The ultimate goal of these charters was not to pursue human rights or alternative forms of government, but to turn a profit. Additionally, the religious persecutions in England frequently included economic restrictions, such as being forbidden to own land, hold public office, or teach. So, while certain colonies such as Massachusetts were strongly influenced by religious factors, economics was ultimately the reason for both the choice to leave England and the choice to colonize under her

rule.
In conclusion, the question which, economic or religion, had greater impact on English colonization in North America is a very broad and challenging topic to cover. Basically, if you ask yourself, if we removed either religion or economics, what kind of colony would we of ended up with? Combining and looking at every factor closely such as The Great Awakening, social life, and religion and comparing them to mercantilism, Triangular Trade, and the London Company. It evoked me to believe that economic factors had greater and more crucial impact on the English colonization in North America.