"Settling" America

Why did colonists come to the Americas?

• European's poured into America in the 1650s

• ​French were in Canada and along the Mississippi River

• Spanish in Florida and along Rio Grande

• Dutch negotiated for Manhattan Island

• English on the East Coast

"Settling" America

Labeling

Label the map with the appropriate colonizing country.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

English

Dutch

Spanish

French

Why did Colonists Come?

​To Earn a Living

• Europe was overcrowded

  • Americas were thought to be wide open.

• Those who could afford it paid for travel and bought farms.

• Those without money became indentured servants.

  • Signed contracts with captains for safe passage, then contract was sold to colonists.

  • Worked off debt over 4-7 years.

    • Most died before

  • Could not vote, marry, have children, leave the land

Match

Put the steps of indentured servitude in order below

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Sign a contract with Ship Captain

Get transported across the Atlantic

Contract sold to a colonist.

Work off debt to colonist over 4-7 years

Achieve freedom after service

• Sign a contract with Ship Captain

• Get transported across the Atlantic

• Contract sold to a colonist.

• Work off debt to colonist over 4-7 years

• Achieve freedom after service

Why did Colonists Come?

For Religion

• Protestant Reformation sparked many "new" religions in Europe

• Countries sometimes claimed 1 official religion

  • Dissenters could be persecuted, imprisoned, executed.

  • America offered an opportunity for freedom.

• Groups like Puritans wanted the chance to create their version of a proper life/government.

Multiple Choice

Why did religion play a role in colonizing America?

• Religion motivated settlers to colonize America for freedom and to spread Christianity.
• Colonization was solely driven by political power.
• Settlers were primarily motivated by economic gain.
• Religion was not a factor in colonization.

Why did Colonists Come?

They Were Forced

• Enslaved people made up as much as 40% of population in Southern colonies.

• Encouraged by Headright system.

  • Carolina Colony specifically gave 50-150 acres per person brought to America

    • includes indentured servants and enslaved peoples.

Multiple Choice

How did the headright system encourage colonists to bring enslaved people to the Americas?

• The headright system required colonists to pay for enslaved people.
• by offering land incentives for each person brought to the colonies.

• Colonists were penalized for bringing enslaved people under the headright system.
• The headright system limited the number of enslaved people that could be brought to the colonies.

Match

Match the person to the most likely reason they would travel to America

• A wealthy Englishman

• A persecuted religious person

• An enslaved person

• A poor Englishman

• A priest

To earn a living as a landowner

For religious freedom

By force

Earn a living after indentured servitude

To spread religion/convert people.

• To earn a living as a landowner

• For religious freedom

• By force

• Earn a living after indentured servitude

• To spread religion/convert people.