Colonization in the New World

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Colonization in the New World Justin P. Wilson Excelsior College Abstract With growing populations, limitations on land, and religious persecution, the desire and need for expansion to new lands was critical. Reasons for this are many, but the economic benefits and religious freedoms provided by this migration are extremely important to understand. Over time and through exploration, the New World was discovered. As migration took place, many benefits were discovered by the colonists and western expansion took place. Though there were many reasons for this movement, the economics of these new lands along with religious freedoms were two of the main reasons for migration. War and limitations on land use caused a dire need for expansion. Persecution for religious beliefs made it desirable to seek new homes to freely practice versus the active suppression. After a very costly war and a shift in demands, the English had a burning desire to obtain land. “Because of the worldwide demand for wool was growing rapidly, landowners were converting their land from fields for crops to pastures for sheep” (Brinkley, 2010). With land plots decreasing for crops and the effects of a war-torn Europe upon them, migration to new lands became more and more enticing. As migration took place, new land was obtained. With the new land came an expansion in economic incentives, from new trade to new crops. “Second, the discovery of the Americas provided the Old World with vast quantities of relatively unpopulated land well-suited for the cultivation of certain crops that were in high demand in Old World markets.” (Nunn & Qian, 2010). With the migration, crops were traded between the Natives and the settlers. This exchange also allowed for an extension of current trade markets and the establishment of trading companies, versus trade between individuals. “Crops such
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