Looking Ahead 3: What did the English want from the colonies in the first century of English settlement in North America?
The English wanted to establish settlement to own more land, which leads to more power, and follow the idea of merchantism. In chapter one, the English wanted to go to the Americas not only for religious freedom, but to practice the idea of merchantism. During the time of English’s exploration of the Americas, the country was one of the last European countries to explore the “New World. Such items the colonists began to trade were furs, animal skins, meat, and crops such as: wheat, barely, and oats. In contrast, the colonists came to North America to have religious and economic opportunities, and freedom. What the colonists do not seem to realize is that England was using the colonist to gain power over the “New World” and to gain profit from foreign trade.
Lectures
Lecture 4 Question 1: What have been the long-term effects of the Puritans on American culture?
…show more content…
Long-term of effects of the Puritans on American culture can be seen everywhere in America.
The three main effects are religious freedom, legislative government, and the idea of merchantism, or economic opportunities The First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution is founded on the idea that the Puritans followed, the freedom of religion, and that stills holds today. Another effect is the type of government we have adapted since the time the Puritans came to the Americas. With our government as a democracy, we have three branches, one being which the Puritans established, called the legislative assembly. The last long term is the idea of merchantism, or economic opportunities. As American citizens, we have the right to earn profit with hard work and dedication known as the, American Dream. Overall, the Puritans have founded the ideas of how we live our life in the United States of
America. Lecture 5 Question 1:In what ways was Penn’s “holy experiment” in Pennsylvania similar to Winthrop’s “city on a hill”? Penn’s “holy experiment” and Winthrop’s city on a hill followed two similar beliefs, or ideals, religious freedom, and consensual society. Both explorer/leaders left Europe to live a religious tolerance lifestyle. Penn and Winthrop do know practice the same religion, but both religion-Quaker and Puritanism- follow the idea that one can self-practice and self-teach their own religious practices. Another important similarity is that the two leaders established their settlement to be consensual. A consensual type of government allows the people to have a say in their government. This was a contrast idea of how the settlers use to live their life in Monarchy governments. In conclusion, both Penn and Winthrop shared the ideals of religious freedom and a consensual society.
When one looks back on the history of the British settlers in the Americas, there are many differences and similarities between those who settled up north in the New England colonies and those who settled down south. There are also differences in the way the north and south lived their lives, did their jobs, what their economic system was like and how the labor force was set up. Among these many differences there are some similarities as well. Those who left England sought religious and political freedom, as well as governmental and economic stability.
Although the only explanation we were presented regarding the reasoning or motives of this colonization was the vague answer of Gold, God and Glory. Which from a general perspective is correct, although similar to various topics in history, there is much more then what we have originally thought. Likewise, Taylor explains how, “until the 1960s, most American historians assumed that the “the colonists” mean English-speaking men confined to the Atlantic seaboard.” Overall, after much research and information from various sources, I will explain the overall motives these countries had and how they intertwine with one another.
The English had two main colonies in the new world, Jamestown and Plymouth. The first colony was Jamestown, established in Virginia in 1607. Jamestown was settled by Captain John Smith, and was named after King James I. Tobacco was the main export of Jamestown, and became the basis of the Jamestown economy, sending more than 50,000 lbs of the plan back to Europe by 1618 (textbook 46). Jamestown had a very rocky start, many colonists dying in the first few years of the settlement, and the settlers had many problems with natives. Shortly after the arrival of English colonists the Natives attacked them, and were finally forced back by a canon from the English. A very uneasy truce was finally settled between the natives, called the Powhatans, and the English (textbook 44-5). Economic growth and expanding their territories were the main priorities of the English in the Jamestown colonies.
There were various reasons why the American Colonies were established. The three most important themes of English colonization of America were religion, economics, and government. The most important reasons for colonization were to seek refuge, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. To a lesser degree, the colonists sought to establish a stable and progressive government.
In the period between the parts of 17th century and 18th century, in which most of the European countries were so anxious to proceed in their present condition of colonizing states inside the recently discovered Americas. One specific European country that had an mapped out system that unmistakably conveyed many gatherings to a large portion of the parts of eastern drift particularly two sections known as Chesapeake and New England. It is important that there was a scramble and a surge in an offer to vanquish whatever number countries as could reasonably be expected because of the advantages that would bring about the procedure. Accordingly in the late 1700's the two countries that were vanquished by England later signed up to be one country.The distinctions that existed between these two countries really show the principle motivation behind why England chose to colonize
There were many reasons why the colonists came to North America. One reason was because they wanted to escape King Edward so they could fallow freely their own religion and to seek riches. Also the Puritans came to North America because they wanted a lace to practice their religion without fear of the government. Also that the religion they wanted to practice was considered more fundamentalist than what was being practiced from where they came. the English colonies were successful in North America was because the British tried so many times to get more money the colonists got mad and boycotted- refuse to use-the British goods. Then the British government kind of loosened their restraints and gave the American colonists some freedom.
Economic concerns of the British caused the colonization of British North America. Such economic concerns included the opportunity to acquire gold, silver, a North American waterway that would lead directly to China and the Indies, and the prospect of countering Spain's dominance in North America (Boorstin et al. 34). In addition to these economic reasons for colonization, the English were also seeking to obtain the essential "raw materials" in America that they had been previously buying from other European countries for exorbitant amounts of money and gold (Boorstin et al. 34). Great Britain also sought to solve other economic problems through American colonization. For example, England needed to replenish some of its diminishing materials and assets, generate another "market" to export its cargo and merchandise, maintain its powerful navy and "merchant marine" through business with new American colonies, and to provide a new place for the unemployed to settle rather than escalating populace/crime and the economic burden in its own cities (Boorstin et al. 34).
In distinction to the early eighteenth century, the small groups of integral Puritans families dominated the economic, military, and political leadership of New England. The Puritans agreed that the church composed many families and wasn’t isolated people. The Puritan family was the major unit of production in the economic system each family member expected an economically useful benefit and the older children worked in some family industries, trending gardens, forcing animals, rotating wool, and protecting their younger brothers and sisters. Wives needed to supervise servants and apprentices to keep their financial accounts, enlightened crops, and to display goods. The Puritans had faith in the larger community that had a compelling duty to secure the families and to see their functions.
The puritan’s religious beliefs caused them to believe very strongly in hard work and improving themselves and their society. Economically, Puritan New England fulfilled the expectations of its founders. Their economy relied on fishing and shipbuilding because they were located so close to the Atlantic Ocean. The Carolinas economy was based farming and trading only for goods they could not produce themselves. But their failure came from their perfect soil. “South Carolina’s swampy coast, so perfectly suited to growing rice, was less suited for human habitation. Weakened by chronic malaria, settlers died in epic numbers from yellow fever, smallpox, and respiratory infections.” (Davidson p. 56) Their population grew from immigrations. “The Mid-Atlantic had rapid growth of people and wealth but political wrangling as well as ethnic and religious diversity made for a higher level of social conflict”(Davidson p. 77) So although their population and wealth were in good standing they had problem with their governing. “The colonial population remained small and fractious. The company made matters worse by appointing corrupt, dictatorial governors who ruled without an elective assembly.” (Davidson p.
Today, people describe the Puritans with their biased point of view. It is not unfathomable why people do not like the Puritans. The Puritans’ society and today’s society are very different. Puritan society was very restrained; people could only believe in God and the Bible was the law. Unlike Puritan society, today’s society does not restrain religion. Even though Puritans had bad influences on today’s society, Puritans played a pivotal role in constructing the USA. If you look around more carefully, you will easily realize that some things that you took for granted were actually influenced by the Puritans, and they are very significant and necessary to today’s society. The Puritans’ influences on today’s United States are found in the areas of economy, government, education, church, and social mores.
The Puritans had a great force of influence upon America. They created the rules, regulations, and laws to keep themselves as the dominant class. They established a healthy economy, a school system, and believed that the political system should be an efficient one. Last but not least, the moral character of America was certainly shaped by the Puritans. America is invented because they were Entrepreneurs and had Capitalism.
If we glance back to the first groups that came to America in 1620 we must first look at why they left their home in England.
Gannon, Andres. "The Puritan Influence in Contemporary American Society." The Puritan Influence in Contemporary American Society. Damien High School, 2008. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. .
Religion played a huge role in education for the Puritans. To the Puritans, education of
Puritanism is no longer the dominant religious force in America, but its influence can be still observed on modern American’s lives. As time passed by, its theological effect has disappeared, but the Puritan ethical thoughts continue to exert their influence on the American people’s values, such as individualism, egalitarianism, optimism.