Colonial America

Colonial America is the historical period that starts with the first European settlement of North America in the late 16th century through to 1776 when the thirteen British colonies declared themselves independent of Britain.

Starting in the early 1500s colonists from England, Scotland, France, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands began to colonize eastern North America. These colonists came to North America (often referred to as the "New World") for a variety of social, religious, political and economic reasons. The Puritans, for example, came seeking religious freedom that was not available to them in Britain.

Some of the main groups of colonists were:
-- the Spanish in Florida, New Mexico and California;
-- the Dutch of New Netherland, including New Amsterdam (modern day New York);
-- the Swedes and Finns of New Sweden;
-- the Quakers of Pennsylvania (established by William Penn);
-- the Puritans of New England;
-- the English settlers of Jamestown; and
-- the "worthy poor" of Georgia,