Why were the colonies founded?

Before the United States existed, thirteen separate colonies—settled in different places and for various reasons—were spaced along the eastern coast of North America. As separate communities, their goals were not always aligned; each functioned essentially as its own country, with an independent government and infrastructure. The colonization of North America began in 1585 with the…

Why did the colonies develop differently?

As with any community, the North American colonies continued to develop and change based on unique climates, natural resources, and weather within each territory. The colonial regions did not share the same features, so each region tended to develop differently. There were three distinct colonial regions: the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the…