Most people who came to what is now the U.S. Between 1600 and 1800 were called what ?

History · High School · Sun Jan 24 2021

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Most people who came to what is now the United States between 1600 and 1800 were referred to as "colonists" or "settlers." During this period, many Europeans moved to the Americas looking for economic opportunities, religious freedom, or to start a new life. A significant number of these immigrants were from Great Britain, which established several colonies along the Eastern Coast of North America. These British colonists would go on to be some of the key figures in the founding of the United States.

Extra: The period between 1600 and 1800 encompasses the era of European colonization in North America. Various European powers, including Britain, Spain, France, and the Netherlands, established colonies in the New World. The British founded some of the most well-known colonies, such as Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, and the Carolinas. The people during this era settled in these colonies for different reasons:

1. **Economic opportunity:** Many settlers came seeking new opportunities for trade, agriculture, and other businesses. The New World offered vast natural resources and land that could be cultivated or mined.

2. **Religious freedom:** Some groups, like the Pilgrims and Puritans, immigrated to escape religious persecution in Europe. They wanted to create communities where they could practice their faith freely, such as the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

3. **Indentured Servants and Slaves:** It's important to note that not everyone came to the New World by choice. Many poor Europeans became indentured servants, working under a contract for several years in exchange for their passage to the Americas. Additionally, between 1600 and 1800, millions of Africans were forcibly brought to America as slaves, especially in the Southern Colonies, to work on plantations.

4. **Adventure or Exploration:** Some individuals were incentivized by the idea of exploring new territories and the adventure that came with it.

The colonists created settlements, established governments, and developed economies largely based on agriculture and trade. These activities set the stage for what would become the United States of America. The late 18th century, which closes this time frame, marks a pivotal point when the Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Britain, leading to the American Revolutionary War and the subsequent founding of the United States.