An easy-to-understand summary of how trade, migration, and ideas between Europe, Africa, and the Americas influenced the British colonies from 1607 to 1754.
From 1607 to 1754, the British colonies in North America were greatly influenced by connections across the Atlantic Ocean. These connections involved trading goods, people moving between places, and sharing ideas between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
During this time, called the Age of Exploration, European countries tried to gain wealth by setting up colonies. One important part was the Triangular Trade, where European ships carried goods to Africa, enslaved Africans to the Americas, and products back to Europe. Enslaved Africans worked mainly on farms in the southern colonies, helping grow crops like tobacco and sugar, which became very valuable.
New goods and ideas also spread to the colonies. For example, the New England colonies traded fish and wood with Europe and the Caribbean, which helped their communities grow. European ideas about religion and government also shaped life and leadership in the colonies.
Overall, these exchanges across the Atlantic helped shape the economy, society, and culture of the British colonies in North America during this period.