His101: United States History I M2A1: Colonialism

The Economics and History Shaped Colonialism in the Western Hemisphere

Excelsior College

HIS101: United States History I

M2A1: Colonialism

Economics and religion were among the principal causes for colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. Europeans begin to subjugate themselves in the Western Hemisphere in search of new raw materials because of its shortage in their countries. Therefore, only restricted economic growth seemed possible in the Europe. Moreover, it is why the European monarchs started to look abroad for economic growth and benefits from the New World they had heard about. It was due to the due to the desire to acquire raw materials as well as the religious tensions that the Europeans started getting interested in the Americas. In addition, religious transformation became very important reason for colonialism in the Western Hemisphere.

The economic development of Europe confronted considerable complications because the trade was limited, while the population growth intensified the problem of the pauperization of the large part of the society. Europeans primarily came to Americas to further their economic interests. The British explores interest grew in America because of the high inflation and huge population growth in England. Not to mention, the raw materials obtainable by the Americas also lured many European monarchs and entrepreneurs to the region. The economic development of Europe confronted a serious problem due to the control of the Ottoman Empire over the seas and trading. Thus colonialism in the Western Hemisphere was mainly steered by the economic interests of the Europeans.

However, religion remained among one of the important reasons of colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. Religious tensions and dissent was the root cause that Europeans got interested in the Americas. Puritans and other religious insurgents felt that the Church of England was too close to Catholicism and migrated to the Western Hemisphere. In fact, from the...