From Columbus To Eighteenth Century America
Posted: Friday, February 05, 2010
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Although Christopher Columbus received credit for discovering America, it has now been determined that a Norse named Leif Ericson, actually established a temporary colony on our shores some 500 years before Columbus' time. This was in Newfoundland and actually it is not known why it failed. The winters were so harsh, it probably discouraged those who tried. By the time Columbus set foot on the American soil, the oceans were abuzz with explorers from Portugal, Spain, England, France and The Netherlands.
During this hundred years various explorers came to this land and spent considerable time in exploration and sizing up the land. As far back as 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to establish a colony at Jamestown. But the group failed and were picked up by Sir Francis Drake who arrived just in time to save them from their situation. Another group was left there in 1587 but no additional supplies arrived until 1590 and the ship found no trace of the group. Their fate has never been known and thus they are remembered as the "Lost Colony".
Another group came with 214 British pilgrims who officially received the first charter for the Colony of Virginia on April 10, 1606. They successfully kept the colony together and survived even though the were attacked by some groups of native Arapahos. Thus the first of the thirteen colonies was established. The first winter was devastating and only 32 colonists survived. But with additional supplies, and other colonists arrival in the spring, they began to prosper and grow.
The reasons for the settlers who came to this land were varied. Some found life difficult in England because land was scarce and expensive and were seeking opportunity for wealth or at least a decent living. They found the prospects to be good in choosing land, farming, hunting and/or starting a business. Some who had very little resources to begin with, voluntarily became indentured servants of others.
Some countries encouraged colonization because it helped them militarily, politically and economically. The English, Dutch, Portuguese, French and Spanish were especially active in this respect.
But many of the settlers were seeking a land where they would be free to worship God according to their understanding of His word. Many were being persecuted for their sincere efforts to live lives as they deemed to be necessary by biblical doctrines. There were Puritans, Quakers, Huguenots and other protestant groups who were unable to worship and teach their doctrines openly without fear.
About the same time as the Virginia Colony's beginning, other settlers were attempting to start a colony in the area that is now Maine. But this group became discouraged and returned to England.
Settling the new land was very difficult. Many died from illnesses and starvation, some were killed by native groups. Their first and second years here were their worst and those who survived were strong and determined.
From the establishment of Virginia on April 1, 1606, the other 12 colonies were settled and chartered as follows:
Massachusetts 1620
New Hampshire 1623
New Jersey 1623
New York 1624
Maryland 1633
Rhode Island 1636
Connecticut 1636
Delaware 1638
North Carolina 1653
South Carolina 1663
Pennsylvania 1682
Georgia 1732
So you can see, that approximately 125 years expired before all of the original 13 colonies were fully established. And during this time, the population grew enormously simply by family's growth combined with new arrivals from various nations, mostly from England but some also from Spain and other lands. The Spanish attempted to settle Florida but failed and it was finally settled by the French in 1564, but was never chartered by them. It is estimated that the British shipped 50,000 convicts to the new land during the entire colonial period, from the time of Columbus to the time of our independence.
This story gives a very limited gist of the time of the discovery of America in 1492 until the advent of the eighteenth century. The eighteenth century itself was a most amazing period. Many great and exciting things occurred for this great nation and some not so great, but all of interest.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)I enjoyed your article very much. As G said a great history lesson. Thanks for sharing.Thank you Linda for reading and commenting.
Hi Joel.Great history lesson. I often wondered why the credit of discovering America was given to Columbus? Thanks again for sharing your wisdom.All the best to you and yours,NenitaThanks for your comment Nineta, I appreciate it.
Don't forget the Swedes who settled in the Deleware bay area of Delmarva.Yes,, actually there were a number of different peoples who settled in various spots but it would have taken far too much space to have mentioned and explained them all. The preponderance were from England and Spain. Thanks for your comment
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