Many colonists sought religious freedom and the ability to practice their faith without persecution. For example, the Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony in 1620 to escape religious persecution in England.
Some colonies were founded with the primary goal of economic prosperity. The Virginia Colony, for instance, was established by the Virginia Company of London in 1607 with the aim of finding wealth through the cultivation of cash crops like tobacco.
Some groups sought refuge from political or social persecution. Maryland, for instance, was founded as a haven for English Catholics who faced discrimination in England. Certain colonies were established to facilitate trade and commerce. New Amsterdam (later New York) was founded by the Dutch West India Company as a trading post, while Georgia was founded to be a buffer between the Spanish-controlled Florida and the valuable Carolinas, as well as to provide a fresh start for debtors and the poor.
For what reasons were the thirteen colonies founded?