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Question

This is U.S History.... There are no subject catagories for history available.

Compare the various motivations for establishing the colonies. How well did the colonies achieve their original purpose or have to adapt to unexpected situations in the New World? Give specific examples from a few of the different colonies.

For example, what motivated colonists to settle in Jamestown, Plymouth, Rhode Island or Philadelphia?

How did the colonies interact differently with the American Indians?

What impact did settlement patterns have on colonial growth and cohesion?

Do you see any connection between the settlement patterns and later when the colonies rebelled against Britain?

Explanation / Answer

The motivation for establishing the colonies to settle either in Plymouth, Jamestown, Philadelphia or in Rhode Island was to mainly participate in the lucrative trade opportunities that existed in the New World. The European trade was extremely limited so they decided to further explore the New World as well. They even wanted to explore the opportunities of the New World which, then on the other hand was also for religious freedom for many.

The colonists mainly settled down in Jamestown, Rhode Island, Plymouth and Philadelphia because these places offered anchorage and a good defensive position. Warm climate and fertile soil allowed large plantations to prosper. Plymouth provided good anchorage and an excellent harbor. Cold climate and thin, rocky soil limited farm size. New Englanders turned to lumbering, shipbuilding, fishing and trade.

The interaction between the American Indians and the Colonists differed much according to its region. The interactions were mostly based upon the variation in political, economic and social factors. Some of the Colonists treated the American Indians quite fairly, while others treated them very harshly with much disrespect. A good example is that the French fostered the existing inter-tribal coalitions and oppositions to establish their trade affiliations with the Huron, Algonquians and the Montagnais.

The settlement factors even played a distinctive role in the colonial progression and solidity. Initially the European countries concentrated only upon eastern America as it was quite closer to Europe, but gradually over time they even started to move towards the northern and the southern states due to its climate. The climate was very much suitable to be used for agricultural purposes, the region with the most favorable climate was the Southern region. At the outset the Native Americans had further invited the Europeans to their land. As a result the Europeans were able to establish their colonies even in the east and south. Native Americans assumed that the Europeans were there just to assist them but soon they came to realize that was not usually a focal point on the Europeans agenda. Native Americans became much more resistant and they began to oppose the Europeans. So then the British attempted to claim the established territories and they also were met with resistance by the Colonists.

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