American History Question!?

Question

Were economical concerns the primary reason for expansion between 1400 and 1600?

Answer 1

If you're referring to British expansion, then the answer is that economic concerns were only part of their incentives to expand. They were also concerned with competition with Spain, who basically dominated the New World until the 1600s or so. However, Spain stopped being a major concern after the English defeated the Spanish armada in the late 1500s, thus becoming the most powerful navy in the world. England also had a huge overpopulation crisis, and the government encouraged people to move to the new world. That's why so many poor people moved to Jamestown to work as indentured servants.

The Spanish, on the other hand, expanded out of a desire to attain the three Gs: God, Glory, and Gold. They spread the word of God to the Native Americans, gained personal glory for their achievements, and tried to strike it rich by searching for gold (mostly unsuccessfully).