European’s Come to
America
HUSH – 10
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Why Did They Come?
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Spain, France and England were the Super
Powers of Europe in the 16th & 17th Centuries.
 The Dutch Netherlands and Portugal were
important, just not as powerful.
 Spain & Portugal were purely driven by greed.
 The search for gold and silver.
 El Dorado, the Fountain of Youth & the Seven
Cities of Cibola.
 The other nations of Europe were interested in
exploration, trade and colonization.
 The New World = a new means to gain profit.
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The Search for Freedom
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The earliest settlers to come to the Colonies
came for many different reasons.
 Religious Freedom: European History is full
of examples of how people were persecuted
for their religious beliefs.
 Religious Purity: Puritans were members of
the Church of England but wanted to purify
the religion and prevent outside influences.
 The opportunity to own land.
 The opportunity to start a new life.
 The opportunity to be 3,000 miles from the
clutches of the King.
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Roanoke Colony Virginia – 1587
The Lost Colony – Sir Walter Raleigh
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What is Virginia
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Roanoke Colony (NC)
Jamestown Colony
Being a colonist was
hard work.
70% mortality.
Dealing with the
Natives.
Diseases like malaria.
What to grow?
How to make money
from it?
Indentured servants
vs. slaves.
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Discovery
Godspeed
Susan
Constant
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• Massachusetts
Bay Colony
Plymouth
Rock
Mayflower
Landing
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Native Lands
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Some Tribes were more
friendly to the English
than others.
The Nauset Tribe
controlled the Cape
region.
They hated the English.
Why?
The Wampanoag
controlled the Plymouth
area.
They were looking for
allies.
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The Mayflower
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The Mayflower Compact
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Squanto
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Squanto was a member of
the Wampanoag Tribes.
He had been kidnapped
by an earlier English
expedition.
In Europe, he learned to
speak English.
He managed to return to
his homeland.
He acted as a go between
& interpreter for the
Natives and the Pilgrims.
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Why is what happened in the
Colonies important today?
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Much of how our country is run today traces its roots
back to the Colonies.
 Fundamental Concepts:
 Separation of Church and State: Roger Williams in
Rhode Island.
 The Govt. can’t tell you who or what to worship.
 The good of the many vs. the good of the one: The
Mayflower Compact.
 All the signers agreed to do what was best for the
majority, not just for themselves.
 Consent of the Governed: The Mayflower Compact.
 The Colonists agreed to follow the rules of the Govt.
 Representative Govt.: The House of Burgesses.
 People agreed to elect others to do their will and to
accept the outcome.
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Key Figures & Religious Freedom
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Roger Williams
 Left Mass Bay colony in
search of religious freedom.
 Moved South. Founded
colony he called Providence.
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Anne Hutchinson
Fought for equal rights for women.
Witch’s Test.
Put on trial and exiled for
outspoken beliefs.
Followers founded New
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Hampshire.
Historical Fiction
• Pocahontas
• Married John Rolfe, not
John Smith.
• Baptized Rebecca Rolfe
• 1st Native buried in Europe16
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