Why did the Dutch send families to settle in America? To start a religious freedom experiment, evangelize the Native Americans, secure their land claims, and manage the fur trade with them.

The Dutch sent families to settle in America primarily to help establish and maintain Dutch claims to land and to secure economic interests, such as the fur trade with Native Americans. While religious freedom and evangelizing were aspects that characterized different European colonial endeavors in the New World, these were not the main reasons for Dutch colonization.

1. Secure Land Claims: By sending families to establish colonies, the Dutch aimed to solidify their territorial claims. Settling families on the land made the claim stronger and more permanent than just having trading posts or military outposts.

2. Manage the Fur Trade: The Dutch were very interested in the fur trade, which was lucrative at the time. By having settlers in America, they could establish and manage trading relations with the Native Americans more effectively, which was essential for accessing valuable furs.

3. Economic Development: The establishment of colonies served the purpose of economic expansion. Settlers could engage in agriculture, set up businesses, and contribute to the economic development of the Dutch Republic through trade.

4. Strategic Positioning: Possessing colonies in North America allowed the Dutch to have strategic outposts in the Atlantic World, useful for both military and commercial reasons.

The concept of religious freedom was more connected with other groups, like the Pilgrims and Puritans who settled further north in what became New England. However, it is worth noting that the Dutch colony of New Netherland (which included parts of modern-day New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut) was relatively tolerant of different religions compared to some other European colonies.

Extra: To understand these reasons within a broader context, let's briefly look into the historical period known as the Age of Exploration. This was a time from the 15th to the 17th centuries when European powers began to explore, and later colonize, large parts of the world. Various factors motivated these expeditions and settlements, including the desire for new trade routes, the search for resources, spreading religion, and strategic military positioning.

The Dutch became one of the leading maritime powers during this period. They were not alone in their quest for colonization; they joined other European powers such as Spain, England, and France, each with their distinctive agendas and methods. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Dutch West India Company (WIC) played major roles in the Dutch's overseas ventures, including the fur trade and colonization in North America.

To give you an insight into the life in Dutch colonies in America, it was marked by interaction and trade with Native American tribes, agricultural development, and a degree of diversity. The Dutch policies were generally pragmatic, focusing on economic gain and sustainability of the settlements. While New Netherland never became as populous or wealthy as some of the English colonies, it laid the cultural and economic foundations for one of America's premier cities, New York, which was originally called New Amsterdam while under Dutch control.