Europeans initially settled along the Atlantic coast for economic reasons like fishing and fur trading. England gradually took control of land held by other European countries like France and Spain through military conflicts and agreements. The early English colonies were strongly influenced by religion as different religious groups fled persecution in Europe and established colonies with religious freedom and self-governance in mind, though these colonies were still subject to oversight and laws passed in English Parliament.

1. Write an essay on the colonial period.
Why did Europeans settle along the Atlantic seaboard? How did England eventually take
control of territory held by other European powers? What role did religion play in the
English colonies? How did colonial government operate and what role did the English
Parliament play in colonial governance? How did slavery evolve in the colonies and what
were the reasons behind the transportation of Africans to the English colonies?