In this lesson from Unit 2: Colonial America, students explore the development of the English colonies in North America and the major reasons people migrated to the New World. Students examine how geography, politics, economics, religion, and social opportunity shaped the growth of Colonial America and laid the foundation for the future United States.

The lesson begins with the geography of the eastern coast of North America, focusing on the importance of the Atlantic Ocean for trade and communication and the Appalachian Mountains as a barrier to westward expansion. Students are introduced to the concept of Colonial America as the era in which England established thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast.

Students then analyze the political and economic motivations behind colonization, including European competition for land and powe ...