AP History
DBQ 1 Between 1660 and 1775, Great Britain’s North American colonies were affected greatly by race, ethnicity and religion. The first settlers were predominantly white, ethnically, English, and religiously Protestant. The New World was home to many people who sought religious freedom. In addition, the demand of new market and new forces of labor created an opportunity for new races and ethnicities to colonize America. New forces of race, ethnicity and religion show how colonial society was a melting pot compared to any other country in the world. After Queen Elizabeth won the struggle for religious dominance against the Roman Catholics, Protestantism became the main religion in England. Catholics went to the New World to escape religious persecution. Lord Baltimore, a rich catholic, had set out to create refuge for his fellow Catholics so he found Maryland. However, Catholics were not safe from the Protestant immigrants. In 1649, the Act Concerning Religion was passed by the Maryland colony. This act states that no one that believes in Jesus Christ should be in any way troubled or disliked for or in respect to his religion. As seen in Document D, the South is very heavily populated by African- Americans. The reason for this high population was for slavery. Most slaves harvested the cash crop of the South which was tobacco. One of the main reasons for many different races of people coming to America was opportunity. Many came for religious freedom like many from England. Many came for the opportunity to make a better life for their family but also for their future generations to come.