1. Discuss the European motives for expansion and colonization in the New
1. Discuss the European motives for expansion and colonization in the New
World.
There are many reasons that contributed to the expansion and colonization by Europeans into the New World. Europeans believed the New World a place to practice religion without religious persecution, a place to find plentiful resources and a place to start new.
Many Europeans felt that they could colonize the New World without fear of religious persecution due to English and European Reformations. Protestant Reformation began in 1517, when Martin Luther openly challenged some of the basic practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther believed that salvation was possible through faith alone and not through good works or through formal practice of religion. Due to Martin Luther’s beliefs he was excommunicated by the pope in 1520. Martin Luther had many followers which lead others to offer alternatives to orthodox Catholicism. One of those was John Calvin a French theologian who believed in the doctrine of predestination or that God “elected” some people to be saved and condemned and others to damnation. These followers were called Calvinists and they believed that the way they lived there lives may show them their chances of salvation. English Reformation occurred due to a political dispute between the king and pope that resulted in doctrinal revolts. In 1529 King Henry VIII broke ties with the Catholic Church because the pope refused to grant him a divorce. After breaking ties with the Catholic Church he made himself head of the Christian faith in his country. This ultimately led to the Church of England which did not satisfy most English Christians. The most ardent Protestants became “Puritans” who hoped to “purify” the church . Radical Puritans became known as Separatists and they wanted to worship as they wanted to in their own congregations which was against English law. James I believed that kings ruled by divine right and antagonized
World.
There are many reasons that contributed to the expansion and colonization by Europeans into the New World. Europeans believed the New World a place to practice religion without religious persecution, a place to find plentiful resources and a place to start new.
Many Europeans felt that they could colonize the New World without fear of religious persecution due to English and European Reformations. Protestant Reformation began in 1517, when Martin Luther openly challenged some of the basic practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther believed that salvation was possible through faith alone and not through good works or through formal practice of religion. Due to Martin Luther’s beliefs he was excommunicated by the pope in 1520. Martin Luther had many followers which lead others to offer alternatives to orthodox Catholicism. One of those was John Calvin a French theologian who believed in the doctrine of predestination or that God “elected” some people to be saved and condemned and others to damnation. These followers were called Calvinists and they believed that the way they lived there lives may show them their chances of salvation. English Reformation occurred due to a political dispute between the king and pope that resulted in doctrinal revolts. In 1529 King Henry VIII broke ties with the Catholic Church because the pope refused to grant him a divorce. After breaking ties with the Catholic Church he made himself head of the Christian faith in his country. This ultimately led to the Church of England which did not satisfy most English Christians. The most ardent Protestants became “Puritans” who hoped to “purify” the church . Radical Puritans became known as Separatists and they wanted to worship as they wanted to in their own congregations which was against English law. James I believed that kings ruled by divine right and antagonized
Cited: Brinkley, Alan. American History Connecting with the Past Volume 1: To 1865 . New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Carlson, Elizabeth. As It Was In The Begining.