New World colonization

Columbus’ discovery of America resulted in New World colonization in North America, which ushered in a period of European colonialism and travel. Although there were many reasons why colonizers arrived to America, religion was primarily responsible for the region’s colonization. This essay provides evidence for the claim that religion, not the economy, was the driving factor behind colonization of the New World.

The Puritans moved to the New World in pursuit of religious freedom because the king of England disagreed with their beliefs; there, they founded the colonies of Salem and Plymouth. (Campbell, 2015). The Puritans accused each other of being which lead to Salem witch trial causing drama and tension and as a result many deaths.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony

The differences existing between the people in this colony prompted some to branch out to Connecticut and Rhodes Island. Also known as the “city on a hill,” they encouraged those left behind to follow their lead by being perfect Christians capable of resisting sin and various changes in England like the establishment of the king (Campbell, 2015).

The Spanish

The driving forces towards New World Colonization were evangelical fervor of a different form (Goldfield et al., 2014). In North America, Spanish faith sought to establish righteousness and abolish cause. Hernando Cortes encouraged the mass establishment of Christians alters in the New World as he believed other religions were wrong (Goldfield et al., 2014).

Conclusion

Irrefutably, religion was the driving force towards colonization in the New World. Most of the groups that turned out to be colonizers sought places to spread to their faith while others escaped religious persecutions in their nations. Oly after the groups had converted natives into their religious beliefs, only then that they embarked on economic matters.

References

Campbell, P. F. (2015). The Concept of Representation in The American Political Development: Lessons of the Massachusetts Bay Puritans. Polity, 47(1), 33-60.

Goldfield, D., Abbontt, C., Dejohn Anderson, V., E. Argersinger, J., Argersinger, P. and Barney, W. (2014). The American journey. 7th ed. Pearson.