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

The Spanish explored the North American continent
for main reasons that are categorized as:
• To find riches (Goods/Gold)
• To spread religion, or Christianity (God)
• To expand their empire (Glory)
They explored and eventually settled land in
present-day Florida, Southwest United States,
Mexico, and the islands in the Caribbean.
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
The French explored North America for these reasons:
• In search of a water route through the New World known as
the Northwest Passage (all three European countries were in
search of a faster, cheaper trade route to Asia)
• A source of wealth through fur trade with the Native
Americans
• To convert Native Americans to Christianity
They explored Canada, the Louisiana Territory, and islands
within the Caribbean; they eventually set up trading settlements
and forts for protection of those settlements.
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
The English explored North America for these reasons:
• In search of sources of wealth (gold)
• Convert Native Americans to Christianity
• Claim land for England
• Search for trade routes
• Freedom from religious persecution
• Expansion of their empire and become competitive with other
powerful European nations such as Spain

England saw the North America’s natural resources as means for gaining
wealth and international stature.

Explorers risked their lives for fame, curiosity, and pride for their nation.

The English Colonial Era will start in 1607 with the first permanent
settlement at Jamestown by the Virginia Company. This success will lead
to the founding of 13 colonies in America.
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 Mercantilism
is an economic theory that
states a nation becomes stronger by
keeping strict control over its trade
 It also states that a nation should have
more exports than imports
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 Jamestown Virginia
• Founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company it was
the first permanent English settlement in the
United States.
• Founded out of English competition with Spain
• Island that was surrounded by the York River, the
James River and Chesapeake Bay
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 the
island was swampy, isolated, offered
limited space and was plagued by
mosquitoes and brackish tidal river
water unsuitable for drinking.
 The first year was a struggle to say the
least and many colonists died during the
“starving time”
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 Jamestown
received help from
Pocahantes and Powhatten
 John Smith told colonists that they had to
work or they could not eat.
 He was also able to convince Native
Americans to trade with them.
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 Created
because they were sick of the
harsh treatment by the governor of
Virginia
 First representative assembly in the
American Colonies
• Provided for more local control of government
• Passed laws to prevent royal governor from
gaining to much power. This was an important
first step against tyranny.
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 Pilgrims
were a seperatist goup that was
attacked by King James for rejecting the
official church of England.
• Fled England in search of Relegious freedom
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 1620
the Mayflower landed on a site
called Plymouth
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 For
the sake of order all of the men on
board signed an agreement called the
Mayflower Compact
• They vowed to obey laws agreed upon for the
good of the colony.
• This helped establish the idea of selfgovernment and majority rule.
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 Starving
time
• During the first winter half of the group died.
 Received
help from native americans and
were able to negotiate peace with local
tribes
• Tribes taught them to plant crops, hunt, and fish
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 They
began to trade fur with the natives
and started cutting timber to send back
to the England to start making a profit
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 Fundamental
Orders of Connecticut
• Created by the Thomas Hooker’s puritan
congregation.
• Set of law were like a constitution
 Extended voting rights to non church members
 Limited the power of the governor
 Expanded the idea of representative government
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 Many
colonies were founded on the basis
of religious freedom
• Many of the religious groups that created
communities were self governing
 Quakers
 Puritans
 Pilgrims
• Pennsylvania was an experiment in the
possibility of equality and citizens involved in
government
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