Any American History Buffs?

Question

Do you think that England's economic concerns had more to do with the settling of British North America than religious concerns? Why?

Answer 1

Mixture of both.

At the time they were one of the largest economic powers. Spain, France, and England. They needed more natural resources for the their industries and N. America was the "New Frontier".
As the new world was being settled the crown was persecuting religous beliefs and the ones that could leave (at first) were the ones that could afford it.

Answer 2

England didn't settle North America due to religious concerns. A group or so of people concerned about religion (and getting arrested for practicing it 'wrong') settled here. However, others came for tobacco plantations and rice, and for various kinds of 'finding one's fortune'. If it had been limited to the Pilgrims, it wouldn't have been nearly as big as it was at the time of the Revolution. And England made a ton off of it. So I'd have to say economics was probably more important eventually, if not initially.

Answer 3

It depends on the group of colonists.

The group landing at Jamestown in 1607 was decidedly more economic minded than religious. In fact, I dare say, the colony struggled greatly because the colonists were looking to make the big buck, rather then look out for the common good and/or long term survivability of the colony.

The 1620 landing of the Separatists (the original term for pilgrims) was decidedly more religious, but even so, not overwhelmingly. The last study I read only identified a third of the colonists as Separatists. The rest were adventurers and opportunists.

Heck, the original explorers, from Europe didn't originally come looking to convert Indians to Christianity. They came for gold, and for a faster route to Asia. Even the English explorers, who were relatively late on the exploring scene, searched vehemently for the Northwest Passage, i.e. Henry Hudson, etc.

In general, then, I would say the colonization of North America by Great Britain was more economic than religious, but it's fair to say it was a mix of the two. The greedy created the momentum to explore, but the religious were the ones who laid the foundations for the new civilization.

Answer 4

Nah, it was more a matter of not letting France and the Dutch establish outposts and gain advantage, which they did at first. They really didn't have much foresight on the settling issue. The religious concerns trumped economics for the settlers, but it is a different issue with the government.

Answer 5

Ohhh yeah, Tobacco and Hemp, not to mention the prospect of gold and "exotic" timbers. People had had enough for decades and they wanted out. The Empire wanted money. I doubt, very much, that the British cared about the religious aspect at all but they used it for their purposes. The settlers were looking for a life where they could practice what they wanted and be self sufficient without the nobles taking the fruits of their labors.

Answer 6

The Pilgrims were running from religious persecutions. But England saw a great opportunity in the new world. Why would they not take advantage of it. There was plenty of money made for England in early trading.

Answer 7

The Economics of Britain are the thing which even inspired them to cross the ocean in the first place . . . so I defent that it was economic. The other things we mention, freedom, persecution, ect, are there, but they are components of a culture which began to develop. The Economic conditions of the new and old world were certainly primary driving factors.

Answer 8

I think the american colonies were also a convenient way to get rid of their undesirables, their religious outcasts, naysayers, vagabonds, and the rest of the riff-raff that the King got tired of looking at. Our forefathers were England's trailer trash! LOL
But, look at em now....jolly old england, the welfare state...

Answer 9

Each Settler came for their own reasons...
some to escape religious persecution...
some to make a buck...
some to find work...
some came as soldiers and never left...like the Hessians who were not English, but were hired by the English (They were Germanic) there were many who deserted once they got here and changed their names to hide and start a new life here.

Answer 10

i do no longer look after the fella, yet historic previous isn't a contemporary events contest. each and every thing must be placed into attitude. you could no longer choose all of us till you spot them as component to the large photograph. Its incredibly too rearly even to place Reagan in attitude. i'd placed Douglas Pierce (1853-1857) as our worst president. He had a especially difficult job, mending the constantly widening rift between the north and south, and he grew to become into for sure no longer as much as the job. He grew to become into the form who would believe the final person he spoke to. the two facets called him "doughface" by way of fact he would shop turn flopping. His perfect folly grew to become into the Kansas Nebraska Act which led to Bleeding Kansas, which permit us to destroy the seal and allow individuals to end killing one yet another over Slavery. He had no achievements and the only signifcant ingredient he did grew to become into to no longer serve 2 words. And this grew to become into while he had no actual opposition. The Whigs fell to products. It grew to become into purely his social gathering. The GOP did no longer get began till halfway via his reign. would he relax in peace.