Final answer:
Various factors contributed to European settlement in the English colonies, including a rise in population in England, the encouragement of emigration, and political and religious developments in Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that contributed to European settlement in the English colonies was influenced by various factors. England experienced a significant increase in population in the sixteenth century, leading to overcrowding and poverty at home. This, coupled with the English encouragement of emigration and the opportunity for a better life in the colonies, attracted thousands of English migrants to settle in the Chesapeake Bay colonies and New England colonies.
Additionally, political and religious developments in England, such as the Glorious Revolution and the ideals of the English Bill of Rights, also had an impact on European settlement in the English colonies.