What factors contributed to England's establishment of colonies on the orth American continent?

Question

What factors contributed to England's establishment of colonies on the orth American continent?

Answer 1

1. To search for a water route to Asia.

2. To make money, originally searching for gold.

3. Religious reasons, not just for the Puritans.  Maryland and Pennsylvania were founded by people seeking religious freedom.

4. To provide supplies for Great Britain, especially naval stores for the Royal Navy.

5. To provide ports for Royal Navy ships and British privateers to raid Spanish ships.

6. Georgia was established as a penal colony for inmates in England's debtors' prisons and to provide a buffer between the other colonies and Spanish Florida.

Answer 2

To outdo other nation's colonies (eg Spain), financially and politically.

Answer 3

Desire to make money like Spain did with its colonies.

Desire by some English groups to have religious freedom.

Desire by English government to become stronger than Spain politically.