Original+13+Colonies+-+Michelle



Take a look at a US map. You'll see a huge chunk of land divided into 50 different parts - or 50 different states. Today, the United States of America is "a federal constitution republic consisted of fifty states and a federal district," starting from Alabama and all the way to Wyoming. While you might drop your jaw in awe, the US did not simply turn into such large nation in a snap. Rather, it took them nearly 200 years to expand their territory throughout North America to become what it is today. And out of the 200 years of territorial expansion, the foremost foundation of the United States was began by the __**original 13 colonies**__. Hence, today, let's travel back to the 17th century and explore the foundation of each of the 13 colonies! 

Virginia (1617) Massachusetts (1620) New Hampshire (1623) New Jersey (1623) New York (1624) Maryland (1633) Rhode Island (1636) Connecticut (1636) Delaware (1638) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 150%; color: rgb(0, 255, 0); text-align: center; display: block;">North Carolina (1653) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 150%; color: rgb(0, 255, 255); text-align: center; display: block;">South Carolina (1663) <span style="display: block; text-align: center; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 150%; color: rgb(0, 128, 128);"> Pennsylvania (1682) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; display: block; font-size: 150%;">Georgia (1732) <span style="display: block; text-align: center; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 150%; color: rgb(0, 128, 128);">

<span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">**1. What were the dates of the expansion?** <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Virginia (1617), Massachusetts (1612), 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) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 120%;">2. Give a brief explanation of how and why the US acquired the territory. Include the discussion of conflicts that arose as a result of this expansion. **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">All original thirteen colonies of the United States were acquired in contrary ways under contrary incentives. Some states, including Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were directly colonized by settlers from England in honor of their king and country. Hence, they colonized small parts of the Americas along the Atlantic coast to economically support their motherland England, demonstrate England's superior navigation system, and support England with natural resources, raw materials, and cash crops. They were often granted permission directly from the king and remained in contact with England even after settling in the Americas, for their main function as colonies was to support their motherland in every possible way. For example, Jamestown, Virginia, is often said to be the pioneer of English settlement in the Americas. In 1606, two private companies of England named the London Company and Plymouth Company each formed separate colonies in the Americas along the Atlantic Coast. Nonetheless, due to its superior method of colonization, London Company first succeeded in creating a permanent settlement in an area of southern Virginia called Jamestown along the James River. The primary incentive of the London Company in colonizing Virginia was to use the Americas as a means of production of natural resources, raw materials, and cash crops. In other words, Jamestown was built to collect or produce certain materials and sell them to the British at a low price to foster Britain's economy.

While some were built purely to help their motherland prosper, others, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania, were built to find religious and political freedom from their motherland. In comparison to the states who were supported directly by the English king, these states, who were in rebellion against England, were often acquired by common people's hands, rather than wealthy private companies or associations. Although they lacked the economic advantage and national support from king that the "obedient" states had, they were acquired by people who were motivated and dedicated to creating an environment with political and religious freedom. For example, Salem, Massachusetts (1628) was built by a group of puritans, who held opposing ways of practicing Christianity from the Anglican Church. Similarly, the Quakers of Pennsylvania had moved away from England due to their strong disagreement with England's religious and political ideologies.

Some states, including New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and Delaware were acquired in even more eccentric ways - they were all bought from the Dutch. Having been more advanced and experienced in the sea, the Dutch had colonized numerous parts of the Americas before the English. But as the power shift of European countries began to move towards England in the 17th century, England began to slowly acquire or buy their territories from them. Such states were often settled by a mixture of people who either desired to use their state as a means of supporting their motherland or desired to find religious and political freedom. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">



During the early years of colonization of the 13 states, the ruling government remained to be the British parliament. Despite the colonists' best efforts to establish their own government, the ultimate control still remained in the power of the British parliament. Hence, all deals made in the colonies had to be approved by the ruling government before they could put them into practice.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left; display: block;">3. Did the ruling governments of the territories approve of the deals? Why or why not? **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 110%;">

**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left; display: block;">4. What was the impact on the inhabitants of the territory? **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 110%;"> Although the Americas was often referred to as the "New World" by the English, it really wasn't; in fact, the Americas had been inhabited by tribes and clans of peoples known today as Native Americans. Hence, confrontation between the colonists and the natives was inevitable. During the early years of colonization, the colonists and natives were able to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with one another. For example, in Jamestown, Virginia, colonists were able to survive the harsh winter because the Native Americans were willing to aid them with food and knowledge of how to survive the winter. Many times, the Native Americans were extremely benevolent towards the colonists and desired to maintain peace with each other due to the nature of their culture. However, things started to change as the colonists soon realized that the natives could be easily manipulated, exploited, then defeated. The colonists began demanding the natives for more natural resources and raw materials, especially gold, in a violent manner. Furthermore, countless Native Americans lost their lives due to their lack of immunity to the diseases that the English had carried over from England; out of all epidemics, smallpox was the deadliest. Gradually, realizing that they could easily take over the natives' territory any time they wanted, the English began kicking the natives out of their "own land." For example, colonists living in Massachusetts killed off a whole tribe called the Pequots in the King Philip's War.



population change, natural resources / environmental changes, impact on slavery or other institutions, political impact) **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It is no doubt that the expansion into the 13 colonies contributed to significant economic improvement in their motherland England. The colonies were required to support England with natural resources, raw materials, and cash crops, such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco, allowing England to rapidly rise as a major global power. Such enhancements in economy also led to a huge population rise, for England was able to gain crops from their colonies at an extremely low price. Likewise, such positive changes were often in place for the colonists as well. Being able to strip away natural resources and raw materials from the natives, the colonists almost had a "free hand" on whatever they could find within their territory. Although some faced challenges adjusting to the new environment or had complaints about having to give away what they found to England, colonists in general were able to make a better living than they did back then in England. In comparison to England, the population density in the 13 colonies was much lower. Moreover, beginning from the early 17th century, slavery was put into place. For example, in 1619, the first group of African slaves arrived in Virginia on a Dutch ship. From then on, slavery persisted for many years to come, for slaves were a vital labor source ("vital because they're free of cost") for growing cash crops, such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco. Politically, colonies often tried to establish their own government with differing degrees of success. In other words, although some tried to seek political freedom from the British parliament, a majority remained under control of their motherland. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left; display: block;">5. What was the effect this expansion had on the U.S.? Consider the following topics when answering this (economic change,



<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; text-align: left; font-size: 110%;">Overall, the addition of the 13 colonies was a positive change. Although the creation of the 13 colonies is what initiated the maltreatment of Native Americans, it is what brought significant economic improvements to England and religious / political freedom to the colonists. By supplying ample amount of natural resources, raw materials, and cash crops, the colonies helped England foster their economy and rise above their European rival powers. As for the colonists themselves, finding a new land free from any religious or political configuration allowed them to establish a society according to their own religious and political philosophies. As mentioned before, it is true and unfortunate that the Native Americans had to be sacrificed to foster the development of the "Old World." Regardless of any justification put forth, the way the colonists treated the natives is an unpardonable sin that cannot be reverted. Nonetheless, the amount of positive influences brought by the creation of 13 colonies definitely outweighs the amount of negative influences. Hence, overall, the addition of the 13 colonies was positive.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left; display: block;">6. Overall, was the addition of this piece of land positive or negative? Consider all parties involved when developing your answer to this question. **



http://www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/13-colonies-map.png http://www.founderblogs.com/images/map_over.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ziZoJIvSPKE/SgDCCICJVWI/AAAAAAAAADk/4Hm-9VxDImo/s400/argall-pocahontas.jpg http://stufffromthelab.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/mayflower-ii.jpg http://www.historywiz.com/images/industrialrevolution/milltown.gif http://www.baharris.org/historicpolandspring/Samoset/SamosetPilgrims.jpg
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left; display: block;">Bibliography **

"13 Originals." //The TimePage - Cycles in U.S. History//. Web. 27 Aug. 2009. <http://www.timepage.org/spl/13colony.html>. "Color Map of the 13 Colonies in 1775." //Archiving Early America: Primary Source Material from 18th Century America//. Web. 27 Aug. 2009. <http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/maps/13colonies/>. "13 Original Colonies." //Scarborough School Department - Home//. Web. 27 Aug. 2009. <http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us/wis/teachers/dtewhey/webquest/colonial/13_original_colonies.htm>.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left;">