America In The 1500s

Whether by land or by sea, eighteenth century colonial travel was arduous, expensive, and many times dangerous. Because of this, few people traveled very far from their homes. Transportation has changed dramatically since the late 1700’s. It was during this time that Colonial America was budding as a new country. This was before airplanes, which appeared in the very early stages of the 1900’s. Cars showed up about the same time, so rewind about 200 plus years and we’re back in colonial America. It wasn’t civilized like it is today. The dirt roads were bumpy, grimy, and when the rains came, they were mud baths. So how did people during this time get around? Often, they didn’t. Not many people could afford the cost of travel back then. Daily American Colonial Life was extremely harsh for the first settlers and colonists. They were faced with a new country, unknown territory and no friends, relatives or neighbors to help them “In those days, it was fairly expensive to travel. Because of this, generally only government officials, merchants, and planters took the risk (Constitution Facts).” Women were supposed to stay home and look after the children while the husband went off to do business. America was still a budding country, so there were not as many cities as there are now and they were more spread out. If the man wanted to travel, it would require several hours, or even several days to ride on horseback. Often the husband wouldn’t return for a couple of days, and when he

Throughout early history, beginning with 1492, exploration was well on its way. European nations began heading west towards the New World in search of new trade routes to the East Indies. With support from kings through financial aid and moral guidance, a new peak was reached upon the arrival of Columbus in the Caribbean islands off the mainland of the Americas. Such an extraordinary event, future voyages were sent off to explore the rest of the New World by Spanish, French, and English ships and explorers. During these times of exploration, traveling nations encountered the Natives among the lands where they would then determine their future through alliances and conflicts. The settlement patterns, along with the attitudes of the American Indians that were encountered with by the Spanish, French and English exploration, can be compared and contrasted through the goals of these nations culturally and socially, and even through the opportunity for economic growth .

Everyday Life in Early America was written by David Freeman Hawke, a professor of American History at Lehman College. He was seventy-five years old when he passed away in 1999. Hawke carried multiple degrees from Swarthmore College, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Pennsylvania. He was a highly regarded historical scholar with a talent for writing. Hawke already had several books published by the time he wrote Everyday Life in Early America in 1988. These books include: The Colonial Experience (1966), In the Midst of a Revolution (1961), Paine (1974), and Franklin (1976). His other book, “Benjamin Rush: Revolutionary Gadfy” was a biography nominated for National Book Award in 1972.

After the discovery of two entire continents by Italian Christopher Columbus, Europeans encountered the native people living among the vast territories. As Europeans continued to spread out along the Atlantic Seaboard, relations and contact with natives became more frequent. During the time period of the 1600s, the relations had a wide range depending on circumstance and tribe. The pale strangers were suspicious to the natives as some welcomed and supported as other tribes warred and attacked. Eventually after another 100 years later, Natives were largely endangered due to war, disease and even deportation. Ultimately the Europeans would become dominant among the vast territories that had once been occupied by Native Americans.

Kristen Schimmoller Dr. Kenneth Shefsiek History 105 2 October 2014 Comparing and Contrasting Colonial America In the seventeenth century, colonial America was categorized into three major regions; New England, the Middle Colonies, and the South. Each region provided various opportunities and breakthrough ideas that created a distinct economic, cultural, and political society different from any other region. These ideas became the beginning of some prominent themes and beliefs Americans see as essential in today’s society.

During the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, the Europeans decided to embark on many journeys that would change their way of life forever. These journeys and the exchange of people, ideas, animals, food, and diseases between the two groups shaped history for the next five hundred years. When the Europeans arrived at this new-found land, they discovered what they considered to be an entirely new species of humans, the Native Americans. These two newly encountered groups of people had a few of the same characteristics and way of living, but overall the differences between them were extremely immense.

In the early days of America under British rule, there were only 13 colonies; all of which across the Atlantic coast of North America. These 13 colonies of British colonial America were divided into 3 geographical regions: New England colonies (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire), Middle colonies (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware), and Southern colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia). Environmental and Geographical variations led to the division of the colonies; but economic, social, and political issues led to the colonies being represented by 3 separate regions and not a unified whole. I believe that colonial america was represented by 3 separate regions because of economic specialization,

Colonists were practicing a democratic features in colonial america time because Great Britain is hundreds of miles away. Democracy in colonial America was in a work in progress with democratic and undemocratic features.

AAmerica began as a small struggling nation, with each citizen desiring an opportunistic way of life. To achieve this way of life, many changes needed to be made. Different people with distinctive ideas came together, and although there was conflict, they made great changes politically, socially, and economically. Each aspect

Changes that occurred within the colonies led to a more “American” society, as the population increased of diverse new settlers. Through key events in American history, the colonies slowly evolved into a more liberal country. Progressively the country was shaped to become a democratic government. It was clear that there

Natives Americans settled in the New World way before the Europeans. Natives settled here and began colonization. They established villages, where they got the supply of food and water. In 1492 Europeans discovered the Americas they thought this was untouched territory. But they were wrong there was already civilization there. This would mark the continuous growing New World.

The government in the early 1700s used words like “estate” and “order” and “condition” instead of our modern time use of the word “class”. Estate was then a function of birth. Those who were born were either noble or common. Noble status could either be acquired or lost through a

As early as the fifteenth century, Europeans began to become eager to discover the New World that was unknown to them. With the concerns of rapid population growth, commerce, new learning, and the rise of competing for nation states, they set out for new adventures and discovery. For a long time, Spain and Portugal were the only European powers with New World colonies.

Expectation v. Reality – The New World During the early exploring of the American continent in the 1500s and 1600s, the New World seemed to be untouched land only inhabited by native, primitive people. It was believed to be the literal Garden Eden, a world without human sins, and the

Until the late 1400's, Europeans did not know the existence of the two American continents ( North and South America ). To the European explorers, exploring the other side of the Atlantic was like exploring an entire different world, hence the name- the New World. In 1492, Christopher Columbus unknowingly discovered the new continent. His original motives for exploring was to find an easier route to Asia but instead, he discovered the New World. Thus; Spain, France and England began sending out conquistadors and explorers to the uncharted terrains of the new continent. Motives for the Spanish, French, and English explorers varied greatly, however, they were similar in some ways. The motives of the Spanish explorers were acquisition of