Final answer:
England's colonization in the New World was driven by economic motives, religious ambitions to spread Protestantism, and social pressures such as overpopulation and unemployment back home. Mercantilism guided their trade policies, with the aim of enriching the nation's treasury through the acquisition of raw materials and selling of manufactured goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
England had several reasons to colonize in the New World. Initially, the nation hoped to find precious metals such as gold and silver, but they soon discovered that other commodities like timber, tobacco, and furs were also valuable. The colonization efforts were driven by the mercantile philosophy, which posited that the wealth of a nation was measured by its gold and silver holdings. Through colonies, England could acquire raw materials at a lower cost and sell manufactured goods at higher prices, thereby increasing the nation’s treasury.
Additionally, England was motivated by the desire to spread Protestantism and compete with Catholic Spain. Promoters like Richard Hakluyt saw colonization as a multifaceted opportunity – it would allow England to demonstrate moral and religious superiority over the Spanish, provide an outlet for the unemployed poor, and enrich the nation through trade and resource extraction.