Compare and contrast colonization efforts in North America prior to 1763 by the Spanish, British and at least one other European group (Dutch, French, etc.).
In the year 1620, the Pilgrims reached the New World and founded Plymouth Massachusetts. European nations came to the Americas to increase their wealth and broaden their influence over world affairs. The Spanish were among the first Europeans to explore the New World and the first to settle in what is now the United States. The first colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. By 1770 more than 2 million people were established in the New World. Colonization in North America depended greatly on government, agriculture, and their own religious beliefs. Europeans came to the New World in order to get out of the harsh dictator rulings of the kings in Europe and other areas of the world. The Spanish used the encomienda to enforce the Native Americans into work. Its application differed sharply from one area to another but it was ideally the way that they were governing one another. However, the British were among the most important colonizers of the Americas. They still were being ruled by a King but they had chosen that form of government, whereas; America was tired of it. America was very rebellious against the British government during this time –example The Boston Tea Party- which outraged Britain and soon started a war. Coming to the New World meant learning new things and new lifestyles. Agriculture was completely new and a different style than the rest of the world had ever seen before. New World grains such as corn kept the colonist from starving. In Virginia, tobacco was a major cash crop. Just like America colonies in Europe had their own ways of growing and farming for their society. If a society didn’t have agriculture then it would fail. The Spanish colonies however relied majorly on nuts and fruits such as olives, apples, almonds, bananas, ect. Coming to the New World and establishing colonies meant people had to adapt to this new environment and learn how to survive in it.