Colonial America

The colonists were justified in declaring independence due to increased British control, lack of representation in Parliament, and events like the Boston Massacre and Intolerable Acts, which...

The Middle and New England colonies were similar in their reliance on manufacturing, commerce, and shipbuilding, and both had deep-water ports for trade. However, they differed significantly in...

English colonists and Native Americans initially experienced hostility, but Native Americans soon offered food to the struggling colonists. However, colonists exploited this generosity, leading to...

The English colonies became the most populous and powerful region in North America by 1700 due to several factors. Unlike the Spanish and French, who focused on extractive economies, the English...

The Jamestown settlement nearly failed initially due to several critical challenges. First, disease was rampant, as the swampy terrain was infested with malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Second, severe...

The primary differences between the Chesapeake Bay and New England colonies were related to the establishment of cash crop agriculture in the former. This led to different labor and social...

To the inhabitants of Anglo-America from the 1600s to the 1750s, freedom primarily meant the ability to own land and participate in self-governance. It was closely tied to economic independence and...

Harvard College, established in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was the first college founded in the British North American colonies. This occurred nearly 60 years before the next college, William...

Indentured servants played a crucial role in colonial America's development of slavery by initially providing a cheap labor source for plantations. Europeans, mainly from England and Ireland, worked...

The intellectual culture of colonial America was shaped by both religious and Enlightenment influences. The Puritans emphasized literacy to read the Bible, founding schools and Harvard University to...

The writings of Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, Sarah Kemble Knight, Frances Harper, Angelina Grimké, and Sarah Edwards share a didactic and religious nature. They often convey moral or spiritual...

Religious diversity significantly influenced the social development of the 13 English colonies. Initially, colonies like Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, led by Puritans, were intolerant of differing...

Seventeenth-century colonial rebellions in America did not lead to demands for independence because colonists still identified as loyal English subjects, seeking to extend English privileges to the...

The environment of New England significantly influenced its colonial development. Limited arable land led to a focus on industrial skills, education, and fishing, rather than agriculture. Proximity...

Many colonists were hesitant to break away from England due to several factors: the vulnerability after the French and Indian War heightened the need for British protection, many colonists still...

Between 1700-1750, the American colonies exhibited limited equality and liberty, especially when compared to today. Slavery persisted, with slaves facing severe restrictions. Women had few rights,...

Status and power in 17th century Virginia were largely determined by land ownership, wealth, and the successful production of tobacco. Wealth enabled families to buy land, slaves, and afford luxuries...

Around paragraph six of John Smith’s A Description of New England, Smith provides a spiritual foundation for colonizers. He argues that the discoverer and developer of a colony must be honest,...