Lesson 1: Founding of the Colonies
Getting Started
In the 16th and 17th centuries, Europeans migrated, at first slowly and then in greater and greater numbers, to North America in search of new lives for themselves.
Some sought opportunities for wealth and acclaim.
Some sought the freedom to worship and live as they pleased.
Some hoped to escape imprisonment or poverty in Europe.
As they arrived in North America, these migrants found that it was already populated by native people skilled in surviving in its climate and terrain. The newcomers had to adapt to life in a new land and, as they did so, they interacted with the people who already lived there and also those forcibly brought there to provide enslaved labor. In this unit, you'll learn about the challenges that colonists faced, both in the early days of the British colonies and much later as those colonies struggled to become an independent nation.
In this introductory lesson, you'll begin reading about the founding of the British colonies, view an episode of America: The Story of Us, and complete a map of colonial America.
NOTE: Throughout this year in history, you will view episodes from the miniseries America: The Story of Us. If the YouTube links do not work, the program may be available through streaming sites such as Amazon, Apple, or Roku. Your local library may have a DVD copy or streaming availability as well. Consult a parent if you have trouble accessing the series.
Some sought opportunities for wealth and acclaim.
Some sought the freedom to worship and live as they pleased.
Some hoped to escape imprisonment or poverty in Europe.
As they arrived in North America, these migrants found that it was already populated by native people skilled in surviving in its climate and terrain. The newcomers had to adapt to life in a new land and, as they did so, they interacted with the people who already lived there and also those forcibly brought there to provide enslaved labor. In this unit, you'll learn about the challenges that colonists faced, both in the early days of the British colonies and much later as those colonies struggled to become an independent nation.
In this introductory lesson, you'll begin reading about the founding of the British colonies, view an episode of America: The Story of Us, and complete a map of colonial America.
NOTE: Throughout this year in history, you will view episodes from the miniseries America: The Story of Us. If the YouTube links do not work, the program may be available through streaming sites such as Amazon, Apple, or Roku. Your local library may have a DVD copy or streaming availability as well. Consult a parent if you have trouble accessing the series.
Stuff You Need
- Great Colonial Projects You Can Build Yourself! by Kris Bordessa
- colored pencils or markers
Ideas to Think About
- Why do individuals, families, and communities decide to migrate from one location to another?
- How do religion, culture, government, and economics interact in decisions about whether to remain in one location or migrate to a new place?
Things to Know
- Europeans migrated to North America for a variety of reasons hoping to find access to gold or other easy sources of wealth, seeking religious freedom, hoping to make better lives for themselves than was possible in their home countries, or avoiding imprisonment in Europe.
- Some African people came to the North American colonies against their will; they were captured and forced to become indentured servants and, later, slaves.
- Proprietary colonies were colonies in which an Englishman owned the land and governed the colony. Several colonies (Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire) were all originally proprietary colonies.
- Most colonies were self-governed early on, with the king granting the owners of proprietary colonies or royally-appointed governors broad powers to manage the affairs of the colony without royal interference. Over time, though, the British monarchy sought more control over colonial affairs.
Skills
- Describe the factors that led to the founding and settlement of the American colonies including religious persecution, economic opportunity, adventure, and forced migration. (SS)
- Analyze the important geographic, political, economic, and social aspects of life in the region prior to the Revolutionary Period. (SS)
- Compare political, economic, religious, and social reasons for the establishment of the 13 English colonies. (SS)
- Assess the impact of geography on the settlement and developing economy of the Carolina colony. (SS)
- Identify and describe American Indians who inhabited various colonies and assess their impacts on those colonies. (SS)
Introducing the Lesson
In this introductory lesson, your child will begin reading about the founding of the British colonies, view an episode of America: The Story of Us, and complete a map of colonial America.
NOTE: Throughout this year in history, your child will view episodes from the miniseries America: The Story of Us. If the YouTube links are not working, the program may be available through streaming sites such as Amazon, Apple, or Roku. Your local library may have a DVD copy or streaming availability as well. As needed, advise your child on how to access this series.
NOTE: Throughout this year in history, your child will view episodes from the miniseries America: The Story of Us. If the YouTube links are not working, the program may be available through streaming sites such as Amazon, Apple, or Roku. Your local library may have a DVD copy or streaming availability as well. As needed, advise your child on how to access this series.
Materials: Great Colonial Projects You Can Build Yourself! by Kris Bordessa
Read Chapter 1 of Great Colonial Projects You Can Build Yourself! by Kris Bordessa and then answer the questions that follow. This chapter reviews the founding of European colonies in North America. Much of this information may be review for you if you completed the Age of Discovery unit in Moving Beyond the Page's 11-13 level.
Questions
- What did the earliest English colonists hope to achieve in settling Roanoke and Jamestown?They sought wealth, either in the form of gold or other precious materials, or perhaps through the opportunity to find a trade route to the far East.
- How were the motivations of the colonists aboard the Mayflower different from those who settled in Virginia?The Puritans aboard the Mayflower were Separatists who wanted to be independent of the Church of England. Unlike Virginia's earliest colonists, the Pilgrims who settled in Massachusetts were seeking religious freedom.
- Who originally settled many of the middle colonies?Several of the middle colonies were originally settled by the Dutch, but the colonies came under English control in 1664.
- Describe the Triangle Trade.European ships traveled to west Africa, where they exchanged rum for enslaved African people. Europeans then took slaves to the Caribbean, where they traded some of them for sugar and molasses. They then took those goods and the slaves that had not been sold or traded to the North American colonies where they exchanged sugar, molasses, and slaves for tobacco and cotton. The European traders then took sugar, tobacco, and cotton back to Europe.