What were the English looking for in America? What type of Englishman came to the new world? please help me?

Question

Why? Where were they colonizing geographically? What type of
colonial system did they organize in the New World? please help me or if you have any link. the same q goes for dutch too. please i need your help

Answer 1

Like everyone else in Europe at the time, the English were looking for overseas colonies in order to benefit the mother country.

Of course, everyone wanted gold, but the huge amounts of gold and silver that the Spanish gained from their colonies in Mexico and South America actually caused the value of these commodities to fall in Europe. Even so, it was still desirable to have, whether you were royalty or just one of the ordinary folk.

The New World offered vast resources for the European nations--just think of all the timber that could be used to build ships, as well as the furs and new foods such as maize and the potato.

Now, the French settled in what is now Canada, some parts of the midwest, and in the Gulf Coast ares of what is now the USA, and the Spanish colonized Mexico, most of Central and South America, and the southwest and western coast of the USA (modern day California), as well as what is now the state of Florida in the southeast.

England and the Netherlands (and some Swedes as well) settled on the eastern seaboard of the USA. The first English colonies were in the south, in what is now North Carolina (the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke, 1587) and, later, in what is now Virginia (Jamestown, 1607) and New England (1620).

While the last mentioned colony was established in the name of religious freedom, it was still a commercial venture and the investors expected a return (you need to remember that, at this time, most colonies were business concerns) on their outlay.

The English, the Spanish, and the French were also interested in spreading their religious beliefs among the native peoples. This, too, caused tension between the European settlers in North America.

Interestingly, the Dutch, who settled what is now New York (both the city and the Hudson River valley), were pretty much uninterested in converting the natives. Trade was what they were all about, and, as a result, were often used as intermediaries between the native population and the English and French, particularly duing the wars between the French and English (and the Indian allies of both) in the early 1700's.

In the mid-1600's, the Dutch ceded New York to England (I believe it was part of a peace negotiation between the two countries), and the Swedish presence in the lower Delaware Valley became only a memory (found mostly in Gloria Dei--better known as "Old Swedes'"--Church in Philadelphia and such place names as Swedesboro, NJ and Christiana, DE). The English aggressively planted colonies all along the east coast.

For the most part, the English practiced what has been called "salutary neglect" in these colonies. In brief, they pretty much let the colonies govern themselves and attend to local matters in the way that worked best for them at the local level. This state of affairs continued up until the years following the French and Indian War (1755-1762), when Britain began to levy new taxes on the colonies in order to pay for the war. Since the colonists had no representation in Parliament, they resented this, and it led to the American Revolution.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Answer 2

Although most would say that the English sent settlers here to help the mother country, in ways of trade, gold, furs, etc...., as well as those that would say that places such as maryland were used as a place for people to worship as they pleased. In fact, originally Virginia was used much like how Australia was used by England. The first people to truly settle Virginia for england were convicts. Virginia was originally a Penal Colony much like how Australia became after Cooke discovered it.

Answer 3

The English came to America for two distinct reasons and for the most part they can be divided geographically.

From Virginia south, the settlements were started for purely economic reasons. To make a dollar or two for the investors and the crown.

From Maryland north, the early settlements were for religious reasons. the people were seeking the freedom to worship as they chose (but not necessarily for the freedom for other sects.)

Answer 4

Initially gold, than lumber, than furs. The English tended to form permanent settlements that were often fortified.

Answer 5

Christopher Columbus was looking for India.
Our nation was founded by bad navigational skills.