The 13 Colonies

Settling the New World

Europe begins to spread

The Thirteen Colonies began as a part of Europe’s response to Christopher Columbus and the other subsequent explorers that followed, such as Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Hernan Cortez, and Francisco Pizarro. Columbus was feeding into Europe’s want of trade routes, and he wished to sail west across the globe to try to get to India in a method faster than any other route could offer. Not knowing that North and South America stood in his way, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain set him and a fleet of three ships across the seas. On October 12th, 1492, Columbus discovered the Americas (for Europe), and changed the course of history forever.

Europe exploded from the word of the New World. Columbus

Roanoke, Virginia, was the first English colony in North America, being settled in 1585. However, the colony didn’t last long, disappearing a couple years later, and to this day nobody knows what became of its inhabitants. This colony was followed by Jamestown, Virginia. It, too, had a rough start, however eventually a man by the name of John Rolfe arrived, and with him he brought tobacco. At the time, Spain was the only producer of tobacco, and as such made them incredibly wealthy. Extraordinary measures were hence taken to restrict tobacco seeds and farming from ever crossing Spain’s borders. The colonists, however, didn’t care, and Jamestown exploded as millions of dollars flowed through it as the plants flourished and were sold overseas. This began the triangle trade, and was the reason the slave trade found its way to America. After this, other colonies, such as the Plymouth Colony settled by the Pilgrims in 1620 sprang up, and this is what led to the creation of the Thirteen Colonies and the three colonial regions (New England, Middle, and Southern). Up until the British took notice in 1763, the Colonies were largely independent. Britain was too busy to deal with them, and so they got to choose their own lifestyles - from government to religion - without any interference. This, however, would eventually

The area was very mountainous, however also had good coastal harbors for shipping. Religious life was a lot better than in other colonies as well. The Middle Colonies were highly tolerant of religions, not being largely dominated by any particular group. This attracted many different types of immigrants to settle there, furthering its diversity. People in the Middle Colonies made their keep through agriculture and trade. They had large amounts of agricultural fields, and benefitted as major shipping hubs. This gave birth to many large cities such as Philadelphia and New York, who acted as some of these shipping