READ: Colonial America

Introduction: Colonial America

Often, when we think of the birth of America or the first Americans, we think of Jamestown or the Mayflower or the original thirteen English colonies that first comprised the United States. But the history of America and of the first people who lived here stretches far beyond that. Long before Columbus "discovered" the Americas in 1492, complex societies existed here, staking their claim from sea to shining sea.

We will look specifically at how the British colonies prospered from 1607 to 1775--prospered so much, in fact, that calls for independence from Mother England eventually became deafening. The key people, events, and forces that shaped Colonial America will be examined.

Questions to Think About

Here are a few questions to think about as you are reading about early Colonial America. 

• Where did Europeans settle in what would become the United States and which countries were active in settlement?
• How were the different regions of the colonies (New England, Middle, and Southern) distinct?
• What were the economic forces at work in the colonial era?
• In what ways was religion important and influential in Colonial America?

The Colonial Period

The Colonial Period is the foundational era of American History as we know it today. Europeans from a variety of nations set out across the Atlantic in search of riches, expanded economic markets, a new start on life, and religious freedom. The 13 English Colonies that developed would eventually become the original 13 states of our republic. The 13 Colonies are divided into three geographic groupings: New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Each one of these regions had some common characteristics, but also some key differences both socially and economically. While primarily English, there were other groups that settled here as well, with the largest of these minority groups being African slaves transported to the New World primarily to provide a labor force in agriculture.