Module: Culture

European Settlements in the New World

The Spanish Colonists

Location
The Spanish colonists settled modern-day Florida and southwestern parts of North
America. This group of colonies became known as New Spain.

Motivation
Many of the explorations of the Spanish colonists were motivated by the search for gold.

Economic Activities
Spain established missions in St. Augustine and Santa Fe where Native Americans worked to
make a profit for Spanish. The Spanish colonies also grew cash crops for exporting.

Religion
Religious emphasis often depended on the people and their motivations. The Spanish
missionaries converted the native people and established Roman Catholic missions.

Spanish mission

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Government
The government of the “mother country” (Spain) determined the type of government the
Spanish colonies would have in the new world. The Spanish kings were absolute monarchs,
so they Spanish colonies weren’t allowed to govern themselves.
Lifestyles
Lifestyles varied based on the colony’s origin and location. Many of the settlers learned
to trade available natural resources. The Spanish colonies established missions, forts,
and ranches as their major lifestyle. They were very self-sufficient.

The French Colonists

Location
The French colonists settled Quebec on the St. Lawrence River (Canada) and along the
Mississippi River. They called this land New France. New France was sparsely settled,
mainly by trapper/trader Frenchmen who occasionally visited trading posts or settlements.

Motivation
The French were motivated by economics. They wanted to trap and trade fur for a profit.

French settlements (blue)

Economic Activities
The French colonist established fur trade with Native Americans so they could sell fur and
pelts to Europe for a profit. New France also produced crops for themselves.

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Religion
Religious emphasis often depended on the people and their motivations. French settlers often
converted the Native Americans to Catholicism. The French government did not allow
religious dissenters to settle in their colonies.

Government
The government of the “mother country” (France) determined the type of government the
French colonies would have in the new world. The French kings were absolute monarchs, so
they French colonies weren’t allowed to govern themselves.

Lifestyles
Lifestyles varied based on the colony’s origin and location. Many of the settlers learned
to trade available natural resources. In the French colonies the settlers were welcomed by the
Native Americans and developed fur trade.

The Dutch Colonists

The Dutch founded the colony of New Netherland, but didn’t continue to settle. Eventually
they were forced by the English to give up their colony and it became the English colonies of
New York and New Jersey.

The New England Colonists

Location
The New England colonists settled on the northeastern coast of North America. These
colonies included Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

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Motivation
The New England colonists were motivated by religious freedom. The Pilgrims who settled
in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 went there to establish a model of religious community.
They named this region New England.

Economic Activities
All of the English colonies grew cash crops for exporting. New England colonies
had thick, rocky, soil and a cold climate. They exported lumber and built ships to support
their economies. By importing natural resources that were plentiful in North America
and exporting goods from the mother country to the colonies, the colonies and their mother
countries became economically stronger than their European rivals.

Religion
The first settlers in New England went there to establish a model religious
community. The Puritans were English Protestants who wanted to “purify” the Church of
England by eliminating all aspects of Catholicism from their religious practices. They
founded the colony of Plymouth in Massachusetts where they practiced their new form of
Protestantism. They enforced religious conformity and the meetinghouse was the center of
the religious activity in their colonies.

Government
The English had a tradition of legislative representations in Parliament. They allowed the
colonists to create their own laws in the English colonies, which largely shared all
responsibility of government with governors and other administrators.

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Lifestyles
Lifestyles varied based on the colony’s origin and location. Many of the settlers learned
to trade available natural resources such as lumber. Men worked as artisans or store
owners in cities and towns. The children in the colonies enjoyed activities such
as hopscotch, jump rope, tag, and swimming.

The Middle English Colonists

Location
The Middle English colonists settled on the central-eastern coast of North America. These
colonies included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Motivation
They were motivated by religious freedom. William Penn gave Quakers and non-Quakers
the opportunity to practice their religion freely and farm the land there.

Economic Activities
All of the English colonies grew cash crops for exporting. The English middle colonies
exported foods to the Caribbean and other European countries. By importing natural
resources that were plentiful in North America and exporting goods from the mother country
to the colonies, the colonies and their mother countries became economically stronger than
their European rivals.

Religion
Religious emphasis often depended on the people and their motivations. English settlers were

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mostly Protestants. Quakers who settled in Pennsylvania allowed others to practice their
religion as they chose.

Government
The English had a tradition of legislative representations in Parliament. They allowed the
colonists to create their own laws in the English colonies, which largely shared all
responsibility of government with governors and other administrators.

Lifestyles
Lifestyles varied based on the colony’s origin and location. Many of the settlers learned
to trade available natural resources. Most of the men and women in the Middle colonies
worked on family farms with servants or slaves working alongside them. The women were
also responsible for daily chores such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing. Men worked
as artisans or store owners in cities and towns. Children received enough education to learn
to read and write, but most did not continue with further education. Instead young boys
learned specific trades from their fathers by watching them work. The children in the
colonies enjoyed activities such as hopscotch, jump rope, tag, and swimming.

The Southern English Colonists

Location
The Southern English colonists settled on the southern coast of North America. These
colonies included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Motivation
The English colonists who settled Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 were motivated by

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economics. They originally hoped to find gold, but soon began to plant cash crops such as
tobacco.

Economic Activities
All of the English colonies grew cash crops for exporting. The English southern colonies
exported tobacco, rice, and indigo. By importing natural resources that were plentiful in
North America and exporting goods from the mother country to the colonies, the colonies
and their mother countries became economically stronger than their European rivals.

Religion
Religious emphasis often depended on the people and their motivations. English settlers were
mostly Protestants. The English southern colonists had established churches in their
communities. Most were Anglican/Church of England. Maryland was Catholic. However,
they were more concerned with profit than with religion. This allowed the colonists the
freedom to make their own religious choices.

Government
The English had a tradition of legislative representations in Parliament. They allowed the
colonists to create their own laws in the English colonies, which largely shared all
responsibility of government with governors and other administrators.

Lifestyles
Lifestyles varied based on the colony’s origin and location. Many of the settlers learned
to trade available natural resources. Most of the men and women in the southern colonies
worked on family farms with servants or slaves working alongside them. The women were
also responsible for daily chores such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing. Children received
enough education to learn to read and write, but most did not continue with further education.
Instead young boys learned specific trades from their fathers by watching them work.
The children in the colonies enjoyed activities such as hopscotch, jump rope,
tag, and swimming.