EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA U. S. History Unit 2

Georgia Performance Standards  SSUSH1: describe European settlement in North America during the 17 th century.  SSUSH2: trace the ways that the economy and society of British North America developed.

Essential Question  How were economy, culture, and development of the English colonies affected by geographic location?

Mercantilism  What is it?: An economic system that ties the power of a nation to the total wealth of a nation.  Wealth is measured in gold and silver only  The wealth is accumulated by a favorable balance of trade (more exports than imports)  Exploration and colonization designed to bring in wealth

Mercantilism  Colonies brought in wealth to the mother country by exporting gold and silver to the mother country and/or provide raw materials that could not be found in the mother country  Mother country was not dependant to any other country, would not trade with other countries  All manufacturing took place in the mother country  The government could pass any regulations or tax to ensure a positive balance of trade.

The French  Who: merchants, explorers, priests  Where: the northern part of North America in what is now Canada (Quebec), around the Great Lakes, and down the Mississippi to New Orleans  Why: to acquire an empire in the new world, to gain goods to sell for wealth…fur, to spread Catholicism

The French  Called New France, the French Colonies were small because of a lack of gold, limited immigration, and a lack of an interest in farming and settlement.  They just wanted to use the land for wealth.  There were few settlements and no self-government.

The Spanish  Who: government officials, soldiers, noblemen, merchants, men looking for adventure (explorers), and missionaries  Where: Southern North America, Central America, South America  Why: to get wealth (gold and silver), to get products to sell for gold and silver, to spread Catholicism

The Spanish  Built towns and got gold from the area  No self-government; colonial governors had absolute power  Decline: The Spanish Armada was defeated by the English in Spain’s power slowly declined and by the 1700s they had lost most of its power in North America.

The English  Who: people looking for a new start and merchants sponsored by the government  Where: between the French in the North and the Spanish in the South  Why: the people: religious freedom, escaped government tyrannies, land, social mobility, to escape economic prosecution  Why: the government: to gain a colonial empire to become a world power, to gain wealth through gold, silver, raw materials, and a market for finished goods.

The English  English colonies were set up by Joint Stock Companies. Charters were granted by the king.  Colonies had a measure of self-government through its charter. People were recruited to work and settle the colonies. In exchange for a stated time of service, the company paid the passage costs.

Map of Settlements