But by the end of the century, the English began to think more seriously about North America as a place to colonize: as a market for English goods and a source of raw materials and commodities such as furs. English promoters claimed that New World colonization offered England many advantages.

In 1606 King James I of England granted a charter to the Virginia Company of London to colonize the American coast anywhere between parallels 34° and 41° north and another charter to the Plymouth Company to settle between 38° and 45° north. In 1607 the Virginia Company crossed the ocean and established Jamestown.

How and why did the English North American colonies develop into distinct regions? Because the north climates didn’t make good farmland, the south created its own aristocracy and the north relied on trade with England.

Motivations for colonization: English colonies popped up along the eastern seaboard for a variety of reasons. The New England colonies were founded to escape religious persecution in England. The Middle colonies were also called the “Breadbasket colonies” because of their fertile soil, ideal for farming.

Colonists came to America because they wanted political liberty. They wanted religious freedom and economic opportunity. The United States is a country where individual rights and self-government are important.

◦ England wanted to start an American colony to increase their wealth and power so that they could compete with other European countries like Spain and France. ◦ They were hoping to be able to find silver and gold in America. (This would help increase their wealth!)

New Zealand

The United States is the only country to have freedom of speech. The constitution does not state that freedom of speech is a ‘constitutional right”.

England’s Bill of Rights 1689 legally established the constitutional right of freedom of speech in Parliament which is still in effect. One of the world’s first freedom of the press acts was introduced in Sweden in 1766, mainly due to classical liberal member of parliament, Ostrobothnian priest, Anders Chydenius.