American Colinization

Jazmin Pelayo

8/18/06

Period 6

American Colonization

There were numerous reasons why the American Colonies were established. Most importantly, many colonies were founded for exclusive religious diversity, to establish a stable and progressive government, and as private corporate enterprises; however, many colonies came to be motivated in origin by economy.

Many colonies were founded for religious purposes. While religion was involved with all of the colonies, Massachusetts, New Haven, Maryland, and Pennsylvania were established exclusively for religious purposes. Colonies were founded upon diverse religions because their primary focus and purpose was to make money or to populate the country. These economically motivated colonies include New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Pennsylvania after its change in toleration.

Government was also important in the founding of English colonies in the New World. With each colony, the government and idea of democracy progressed. With a weak and unpredictable government first established in Virginia, the American colonists gradually advanced to a more democratic government. However, even the most democratic government was unlike the democracy we enjoy today. Their gradual learning experience and progression led to many more instances of attempted improvement, thus leading to more voice from the common people. The furthest developed government, in theory, was that of the Carolinas. . The governor was the head of the government. Directly below him was the upper house nobility, which consisted of freemen. Far below them, the lower-house assembly, or commoners, had power. Commoners finally had a say, in theory. The problems with this government were that the lower-house still did not have a say. The upper house assemblies felt that since they gave