There were many factors that led to English settlement in the New World. While Spain and France used the New World as a place to extract raw materials, England used the New World's resources as well as territory to allow dissidents and the poor to have a place to go without creating civil unrest in England. The formation of the Church of England would ultimately lead to religious dissident groups, such as Puritans and Quakers. These groups disagreed with supporting a state-sponsored church, and their followers were ostracized and imprisoned. The Puritans and Quakers were encouraged to settle in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, where they could practice their religion freely and yet still help England by shipping raw materials back home.
England was a relative latecomer to the race for American colonies—Spain and France had been acquiring North American territory for decades before England started. The destruction of the Spanish Armada...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
in 1588 by Sir Francis Drake demonstrated to England that a strong navy was essential for its national survival and economic success. Ensuing English privateering efforts against both Spanish and French treasure fleets led England to believe that the New World could enrich the national coffers. England sent a group of young adventurers to Virginia in 1607 in order to find wealth. The colony would not have survived if not for a novel crop: hybridized tobacco. England used the lure of riches in tobacco and sugar in the Caribbean in order to encourage young men to leave the home country and make their fortunes abroad. These colonies would have had little chance of success if the Spanish Armada was still a major force to harass the English colonies and prevent trade.
There are many more events and ideas that shaped England's efforts to expand into the New World. It is important to remember that England was ultimately successful due to its willingness to invest people into creating permanent settlements rather than creating trade and missionary outposts. The rise of the English navy after the demise of the Spanish Armada led to an increased demand for American lumber. Religious families created towns and cities that invited further colonization of English people looking for greater opportunity and adventure in the New World. While the formation of the Church of England and the defeat of the Spanish Armada happened before the seventeenth century, these two events were major factors in England's colonial success in the New World.