The
Colonies Begin!
Some of the colonies were started because the colonists wanted freedom of religion. They wanted freedom of religion from the king of England who ruled the Church of England. Many colonists however, came to America to explore and claim land for their country. Most of the Southern land was claimed by the French.
The Pilgrims were not the first people to come to America. The first group that came in 1585 was from England as well, but sadly their settlement failed. What happened to all of them I wonder? (See the Lost Colony page to find out.) The English tried again in 1607. They successfully started a colony called Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent settlement in North America. The English came to find gold there. Did they have any luck?
To find out more about why the colonies were formed look at these helpful web sites!
13 Originals founding the American Colonies
Return to: Colonial Choices that Made a Difference!