The establishment and expansion of English settlements in North America during the 17th century. The motivations behind English colonization included religious freedom, economic opportunities, and escaping political unrest.
Related terms
Jamestown Colony: The first successful permanent English settlement in North America. It was founded with hopes of finding gold but later thrived through tobacco cultivation.
Puritans: A group of English Protestants who sought religious reform within the Church of England. They established colonies like Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious freedom.
Indentured Servitude: A labor system where individuals would work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the New World.