British colonies of the United States of America

1st unsuccessful attempt:

Roanoke Island (North Carolina).also called

the lost colony.

Founded by Sir Walter Raleigh granted by queen

Elizabeth 1 in 1585.

Motive: military, to be a base to attack the

Spanish ships.

They failed because they ere ill-prepared and they

were depended on the local Indians for food.

However, they antagonized the natives and were

deprived of the vital supplies.

Successful attempts:

1/Jamestown (Virginia) granted by James 1, it was

the first settlement in 1606.

Motive: economic, the king and the colonist will

shair benefits by the joint-stock company. This

colony survived thanks to John Smith’s ethic:

who does not work will not eat, John Rolfe

who introduced the tobacco, and the slaves as

bound or as indentures servant to raise the tobacco.

2/Plymouth bay (Massachusetts). In 1620, the

Mayflower transported the pilgrims.

Motive: religious, to practice their puritan’s style.

The colonists were known as the Pilgrim Fathers.

They drafted the mayflower compact: a series of rules (plan of self-government). With the

help of the Indians the colony survived so, by the first harvest (1621), the colonists invited the

Indians to a feast called thanksgiving.

3/Massachusetts Bay founded in 1629 by another group of puritans allowing to America to

develop its own parliamentary tradition. John Winthrop helped to make Massachusetts bay a

bible commonwealth which he believed that it would serve as example for all people.

Motive: religious, only puritans could leave there.

4/Maryland (a heaven for Catholics), called Maryland because of the Catholics of bloody

Mary.

Motive: religious.

5/Pennsylvania was given to William Penn. A heaven for the Quakers (a branch of puritans

but they were tolerant).

Motive: religious.

6/Georgia was founded as military buffer between the Spanish in Florida and the other

English colonies.

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Thus from the start America became a refuge for individuals wishing to escape persecution

for their beliefs or desiring to make money quickly.

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