Growth of Colonial Settlement
European settlement began in the region around Chesapeake Bay and in the Northeast, then spread south and west into the Appalachian Mountains.
Map by National Geographic Society
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European Colonization of North America
The invasion of the North American continent and its peoples began with the Spanish in 1565 at St. Augustine, Florida, then British in 1587 when the Plymouth Company established a settlement that they dubbed Roanoke in present-day Virginia. This first settlement failed mysteriously and in 1606, the London Company established a presence in what would become Jamestown, Virginia. From there, the French founded Quebec in 1608, then the Dutch started a colony in 1609 in present-day New York. While Native Americans resisted European efforts to amass land and power during this period, they struggled to do so while also fighting new diseases introduced by the Europeans and the slave trade. Learn more about the colonization of North America and the plight of Native Americans with these classroom resources.
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Thirteen British Colonies
The British began their invasion of North America in 1587 when the Plymouth Company established a settlement that they dubbed Roanoke in present-day Virginia. This first settlement failed mysteriously and in 1606, the London Company sent a ship full of people to establish a presence. They named the area Jamestown. From there, other groups crossed the ocean to start new lives in this “New World.” Some groups arrived to pursue religious freedom and others economic opportunities. Over time, they formed the thirteen British colonies up and down the East Coast. Learn more about the thirteen British colonies with these classroom resources.
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Population Distribution 17th-19th Century
The total number of people on Earth has been increasing for centuries, and it looks as though that trend will continue into the future. The first big growth spurt for the world population occurred in the mid-20th century. However, prior to this population boom, in the 17th to 19th centuries, the population demographics were considerably different than those of today. Globally, this time period was defined by movements of colonization, conquest, trade, industrialization, and the transatlantic slave trade. These events redistributed people on the eve of one of population’s biggest booms. Looking back at where and how people lived in these centuries can help us learn more about why the world population is the way it is today. Teach students about the history of the world population with this curated collection of resources.
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Economics of the Thirteen British Colonies
The British arrived in North America in 1587 through the sponsorship of the Plymouth Company, which established a short-lived settlement called Roanoke in present-day Virginia. Then in 1606, the London Company established a presence in what would become Jamestown, Virginia. These companies pursued the economic opportunities afforded by the natural resources abundant in this “New World.” The economy in the colonies, which varied regionally, was mostly centered around agriculture and exporting materials back to England. The southern colonies had large plantations that grew tobacco or cotton and required slave labor, while northern colonies had small family farms. Learn more about the economics of the 13 British colonies with these classroom resources.
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European Colonization of North America
The invasion of the North American continent and its peoples began with the Spanish in 1565 at St. Augustine, Florida, then British in 1587 when the Plymouth Company established a settlement that they dubbed Roanoke in present-day Virginia. This first settlement failed mysteriously and in 1606, the London Company established a presence in what would become Jamestown, Virginia. From there, the French founded Quebec in 1608, then the Dutch started a colony in 1609 in present-day New York. While Native Americans resisted European efforts to amass land and power during this period, they struggled to do so while also fighting new diseases introduced by the Europeans and the slave trade. Learn more about the colonization of North America and the plight of Native Americans with these classroom resources.
-
Thirteen British Colonies
The British began their invasion of North America in 1587 when the Plymouth Company established a settlement that they dubbed Roanoke in present-day Virginia. This first settlement failed mysteriously and in 1606, the London Company sent a ship full of people to establish a presence. They named the area Jamestown. From there, other groups crossed the ocean to start new lives in this “New World.” Some groups arrived to pursue religious freedom and others economic opportunities. Over time, they formed the thirteen British colonies up and down the East Coast. Learn more about the thirteen British colonies with these classroom resources.
-
Population Distribution 17th-19th Century
The total number of people on Earth has been increasing for centuries, and it looks as though that trend will continue into the future. The first big growth spurt for the world population occurred in the mid-20th century. However, prior to this population boom, in the 17th to 19th centuries, the population demographics were considerably different than those of today. Globally, this time period was defined by movements of colonization, conquest, trade, industrialization, and the transatlantic slave trade. These events redistributed people on the eve of one of population’s biggest booms. Looking back at where and how people lived in these centuries can help us learn more about why the world population is the way it is today. Teach students about the history of the world population with this curated collection of resources.
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Economics of the Thirteen British Colonies
The British arrived in North America in 1587 through the sponsorship of the Plymouth Company, which established a short-lived settlement called Roanoke in present-day Virginia. Then in 1606, the London Company established a presence in what would become Jamestown, Virginia. These companies pursued the economic opportunities afforded by the natural resources abundant in this “New World.” The economy in the colonies, which varied regionally, was mostly centered around agriculture and exporting materials back to England. The southern colonies had large plantations that grew tobacco or cotton and required slave labor, while northern colonies had small family farms. Learn more about the economics of the 13 British colonies with these classroom resources.