The colonisation of North America
I can recall that during the 16th and 17th centuries many people migrated to the Americas and forcibly removed indigenous peoples from their land.
The colonisation of North America
I can recall that during the 16th and 17th centuries many people migrated to the Americas and forcibly removed indigenous peoples from their land.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Exploration of the 'New World' took place under Elizabeth I and James I due to England's sea-faring capability.
- Many people migrated to the Americas for economic reasons and to take advantage of fertile farmland and fishing grounds.
- Nonconformists migrated to the Americas to escape religious persecution after the Reformation and English Civil War.
- Settler colonialists forcibly took land from the Native Americans; many of whom died from smallpox and violence.
- The settlers in America forged a new American identity after the colonisation of North America.
Keywords
Indigenous - indigenous people are the original inhabitants of a specific area
Colony - a country or area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country
Emigrated - having left one’s own country permanently and gone to live in another one
Native American - a member of any of the societies who originally inhabited North and South America and the Caribbean Islands
Common misconception
Most of the Native Americans were killed in battle by British colonists.
Although many Native Americans succumbed to British violence, the overwhelming majority of Native Americans were killed by European diseases, to which they had no natural immunity.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
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