New World Colonies Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is New World Colonies?
The colonization of the New World by European explorers and settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries had a profound impact on the development of many countries. It brought unprecedented change to the societies, cultures, economies, and political systems of those who settled there. The colonies established in the New World allowed for an exchange of goods, ideas, religions, and beliefs between Europe, Africa, Asia and North America that would shape much of early modern history. One major consequence of colonization was forced migration. Native Americans were pushed off their land through often violent means as Europeans sought to make room for their own settlements. Many Indigenous groups experienced a dramatic decline in population due to disease introduced by colonists or warfare with colonial forces. This decimation had severe consequences for various cultures throughout North America as traditional ways of life were disrupted or lost entirely as a result. Colonization also resulted in economic changes to both Europe and its new colonies stemming from trade routes established across the Atlantic Ocean. Colonists could exploit resources found within their territories such as timber or agricultural products which could then be shipped back to Europe where they fetched high prices from merchants eager to access these new commodities from overseas markets. In turn this wealth helped support growing empires based on mercantilism-an economic theory focused on increasing state power via foreign trade relations-as well as heavily influenced industrialization processes occurring in England during this time period. Religious differences between colonizers were another aspect impacted by New World colonization efforts; Protestant Christianity was widely spread among settlers while indigenous peoples practiced traditional spiritual traditions prior to contact with Europeans resulting in religious conflict that continues still today between Native American tribes living on reservations across America’s interior regions versus mainstream Christianity practiced elsewhere throughout society at large. Finally, colonialism provided differing legal frameworks depending upon region that shaped how specific rights varied depending upon one’s place within imperial structures whether it be Indigenous people facing subjugation under draconian laws enforced by European powers or African slaves being denied basic human rights including freedom itself when little existed before them outside of tribal customs existing prior any encounter with Euopeans themselves.. These disparities continue even after independence movements swept through most nations formerly controlled by colonial administrations offering varying levels protection against oppressive governments rooted firmly within imperialist pasts stretching back hundreds years ago.