Colonization of north america

Colonization of North America

By: Andrew Foerst

U.S. History8th Grade

PurposeUnderstanding the major reasons Europeans

decided to settle and colonize North America.

ObjectivesStudents should know:

The economic reasons Europeans colonized North America.

The religious reasons Europeans colonized North America.

The First Voyage to the First SettlementsIn 1492, the Spanish

explorer, Christopher Columbus, set off from Spain to North America in order to trade, sell, and buy goods.

Virginia’s settlements began in 1587.

Maryland was founded in 1632.

VirginiaMany Europeans

immigrated to North America so that they could own their own land and start farms.

The Virginia settlement used tobacco as a “cash crop” to help keep the colony alive.

Many of the farmers had “indentured servants” who worked for them to pay off their ticket to North America from Europe.

MarylandReligious freedom was

another big reason Europeans wanted to come to North America.

Maryland was the first settlement that tolerated all Christian faiths and became very popular with the Catholics.

Indentured servants were also used throughout Maryland. This lead to many of the settlers being young males which caused not as many settlers having families.

Testing Your Knowledge So FarHere are some questions that deal with the

previous slides. In order to understand why North America was colonized, you must understand the major attributes.

Please click the letter you think is the correct answer.

Question #1Who was the first person to voyage from

Europe to America?

A. George Washington

B. Christopher Columbus

C. Abraham Lincoln

Incorrect AnswerGeorge Washington was our first President,

not our first voyager.Please click, back, to see the question.

Correct!Christopher

Columbus was the first explorer to voyage from Spain, in Europe, to North America.

Incorrect AnswerAbraham Lincoln was another one of our

Presidents but not for a long time after the first voyage to North America.

Please click, back, to see the question.

Question #2Why was Maryland so appealing to European

settlers?

A. Maryland accepted all the Christian faiths.

B. Maryland had a “cash crop” of tobacco.

C. Maryland was the most beautiful place in North America.

Incorrect AnswerVIRGINIA had a “cash crop” of tobacco.Please click, back, to see the question.

Correct!Maryland was the first settlement to accept

all the Christian faiths. Many Europeans voyaged to Maryland to get away from persecution.

Incorrect AnswerAlthough Maryland is beautiful, it was not a

real reason it was so appealing to European settlers.

Please click, back, to see the question.

Question #3What was the settlement of Virginia’s “cash

crop”?

A. Cotton

B. Wheat

C. Tobacco

Correct!Tobacco was Virginia’s “cash crop”.

Incorrect AnswerCotton was not Virginia’s “cash crop”.Please click, back, to see the question.

Incorrect AnswerWheat was not Virginia’s “cash crop”.Please click, back, to see the question.

ConclusionThis is a very brief look into the beginning of

the colonization of North America by Europeans. Hopefully, you understand some of the economic reasons and religious reasons, so many Europeans had for coming to North America.

ResourcesCourse Notes. (n.d.) Chapter 02 - Europeans

Colonize North America, 1600-1650. Retrieved from http://www.course-notes.org/us_history/notes/a_people_and_a_nation_8th_edition_textbook_notes/chapter_02_europeans_colonize_north

History. (n.d.) Exploration of North America. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/exploration-of-north-america