American History - Assignment Example

What were the 4 groups of English colonies in what is today the USA? The four original colonies were: the New England, the Middle Colonies, the Upper (sometimes called Chesapeake Bay Colonies) and Lower South. 2. What was the purpose(s) for the Navigation Acts? Why did England pass these laws? The purpose of the Navigation Act was to favor English men interests in trade and restrict foreign ships and its personnel from free access to American ports and markets. England vastly benefitted from it: fifty percent of every foreign crew consisted of Englishmen.

Foreigners had to obey the rules; otherwise they were banned from ports. At the same time this situation created disagreements between the mother country and colonies of West Indies and North America. English men simply perceived colonies as a commodity, a valuable resource for their own prosperity and the colonists wished to pursue their own economic interests. 3. Why did England and France go to war with each other in the late 1600's and late 1700's? Sequence of wars between England and France represented their struggle for control over the American colonies.

American territories gave vast economic benefits for the mother country: trade and farming was mounting there. Therefore England and France were interested in expanding their presence on American soil. All but one war (so called French and Indian War) started on the European territory and then moved to colonies. 4. Why were the Mid-Atlantic colonies so appealing to new colonists? Why did many colonists move to those colonies? The colonies of Mid-Atlantic were famous for its diversity, multiculturalism and significant economic growth.

Therefore this pluralistic society attracted many new colonists; people saw more opportunities to earn money there. Immigrants from Ireland were looking for freer trade opportunities, less rent expenses and religious freedom. Immigrants from Germany were mostly bondservants who paid for their trip to America by serving their master for some time being. Shipbuilding and wheat industries were mounting thus attracting more and more colonists to this land. 5. How did Georgia differ from its neighbors to the North?

First of all, colonists from Georgia were pursuing idealistic goals while building their society: they tried to create an independent farming system, prohibited slavery and alcohol on their territory and tried to control Indian trade. They also were encouraging the ideas of “liberty on conscience.” In the very beginning of its existence this society had a lot in common with their north neighbors. However the expectations were hard to achieve and it was very difficult for new colonists to follow the abolishment of slavery.

Production of silk was not very profitable. Ordinary colonists owned only 50 acres of infertile land they could not sustain their families. Later on the society that tried to maintain ideas of independent farming system was forced to revoke its anti-slavery ideas. 6. How did the French and Indian War change the power structure of North America? What did France lose and what did England gain? The French and Indian War was the first war that has started on the American land and then moved to Europe.

The thirteen British colonies became the main participants in this conflict; local colonial authorities had no choice but to work with each other. These factors predetermined the feeling of integrity among the colonies. After the peace treaty was signed Britain obtained the vast French and Spanish territories in America. However the colonies did no longer seek for protection from their mother country. This feeling later contributed to the ideas of independence and disunity.