Question

The English believed that, unlike the Spanish, their motives for colonization were pure, and that the growth of empire and freedom would always go hand in hand. Did this belief play out in reality?

a) Yes, the English motives for colonization were pure and aligned with the growth of empire and freedom.
b) No, the English motives were not pure, and there was a disconnect between empire growth and freedom.

Answer 1

The belief that English motives for colonization aligned with the growth of empire and freedom did not play out entirely in reality due to the presence of economic interests and self-interests. English colonization was driven by a combination of religious aspirations, economic motives, and self-interests, indicating a disconnect between empire growth and freedom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The belief that the English motives for colonization were pure and aligned with the growth of empire and freedom did not entirely play out in reality. While some English colonists were driven by religious ideals and a desire to spread Christianity, economic interests and self-interests also played a significant role in colonization.

The English merchants sought to build wealth and improve their economic position by collaborating with government-sponsored trading monopolies and joint-stock companies. These ventures aimed to extract material wealth from the New World, similar to what Spain was doing. Additionally, mercantilist theory fueled the desire for economic domination through a colonial empire, where the colonies could provide raw materials for England and serve as captive markets for English goods.

Overall, the English motives for colonization were a mixture of economic interests, religious aspirations, and self-interests, indicating a disconnect between empire growth and freedom.