Why did the early Europeans settle in the United States ?
sleepy.stud asked:
As far I know, Columbus came to America in search of trade route to India. India was prosperous nation at that point of time. But mainland of America was inhabited only by Native Americans. So I was wondering what was the motivation for the early Europeans to settle here. It would have been really difficult to setup everything right from farming, workshops, colleges, markets and other social institutions. I would like to know what is the general motive and incentives for such settling in unknown and far off places.
Paul
As far I know, Columbus came to America in search of trade route to India. India was prosperous nation at that point of time. But mainland of America was inhabited only by Native Americans. So I was wondering what was the motivation for the early Europeans to settle here. It would have been really difficult to setup everything right from farming, workshops, colleges, markets and other social institutions. I would like to know what is the general motive and incentives for such settling in unknown and far off places.
Paul
Tags: Colleges, Native Americans, United States
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
They wanted to conquer this savage land. However, Native Americans are a noble race, as we have come to understand.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
The 3 G’s
God, Gold and Glory
August 28th, 2008 at 7:35 am
It varied a lot from group to group, but by about 1600, most groups that settled in the Americas were looking for freedom from religious persecution.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
teach them basics of life….Europeans just knew and still are very clever people….medicines,art ,inventions,etc.They could set up a new place in Mars and make it work,lol
August 29th, 2008 at 2:51 am
To bring the wheel to the noble Indians
August 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Most early government-sponsored colonies were set up to discover new products (tobacco for example) and create new trade, but also there was a widely-held belief that a new continent would be rich in mineral resources (precious metals, gemstones). This was partly a mistake in dealing with the natives in South America – they had a great deal of gold prominently used, leading the explorers to believe that it must be more common. In fact it was less common, but it just hadn’t occurred to the natives to hide it away in vaults like the Europeans.
After the initial wave of government projects, the main driver of European immigration was people seeking out a new territory where they would be able to exercise political or economic freedom unavailable to them in Europe. The Pilgrim Fathers being the classic example, obviously (seeking religious freedom).
August 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Columbus believed he could find a shorter, less expensive trade route to India by sailing the opposite direction from the easterly route that the trading companies were heading. Basically, he wanted to make money in trading in spices with India. He ended up discovering land that Europeans had not previously known about (Supposedly…..read up about earlier Viking explorers.)
Anyway, I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and am well versed in the early European settlement history and myth of that area. While Quebec City is celebrating its 400 anniversary this year, Boston is not quite that old. The Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620…
These Europeans who settled in Massachusetts were looking for religious freedom. They were very pious Christian people who raised a lot of money to sail across the Atlantic to start a new life away from the restrictions of their governments.
Can’t tell you much about the rest of the earliest settlements: Jamestown, Virginia. Santa Fe, New Mexico. But you see the example of a French colony, a British colony, and a Spanish colony.
Of course the governments wanted money and power. The individuals doing the exploring of the Americas were motivated by some of the same reasons we go into space now. Absolutely, a lot of it was greed, but some of it was simply for the adventure, or the glory of being one of the first to go where their people had never been before. Pioneering spirit, and all that.
Good question.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:26 pm
They were not making it in Europe. Many were criminals and unwanteds. Hey, but look what we have become. Due to the melting pot, the U.S. has no crime. Heh, Heh, Heh. I wonder how many will like that answer.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 am
The actual motive was to get away from all the Rules that Europe had .It was not difficult at all for them to set.You need to realize they grew up with the trades.They learned them hands on from the time they were born.The general motive was to get away from higher up people who to rule everything.Especially the Church.”Freedom” was the actual factor.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Visit indian casinos? No, pal they came to a hostile land and made America beautiful. Why could the mexicans not do the same in ole mexico?