Expert: Ralph Salier - 5/9/2007

Question
QUESTION: What social, cultural and intellectual baggage did the English bring with them to the New World in 1660 to 1760?
ANSWER: Hi Ro,

Plenty!  They essentially transplanted their social structure, laws and language. But this was tempered and mixed with German, Scandinavian, Italian, and many other cultures coming to the new world to make a new life.  This mixture of peoples, foods, religions, cultures etc... is what built America. Makes us unique in the world,  a true melting pot.

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QUESTION: Will the English find the same as the Spanish and the French did when they come to the New World in 1660 to 1760?
ANSWER: Hi Ro,

Yes to a degree.  But they settled in different areas so the climate, vegitation and natives were all different.  Some more cooperative others not so.  Food resources were also different.

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QUESTION: Will the immigrants of the New World from 1660-1760 find or accomplish whatever goals they might have?
ANSWER: Some yes and some no.  For instance the English came in search of gold but found none while the Pilgrims were seeking religious freedom and found it although they were as intolerant of other religions as the culture they came from.  The Spanish found gold, empire and social interaction, the French territory and a fur trade and other valued commodities.  It took a long time for the English to find value in the New World.

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QUESTION: What kind of society ultimately evolved out of the New World?
ANSWER: Hi Ro,  I guess I am a bit stumped by the question.  The United States, Mexico and Canada are among the resulting societies which evovled from this earlier period of time.  These countries contiue to evolve as new people come to live in these countries bringing new ideas and life ways.  It is in the nature of the USA infact to be highly flexible and open to evolution as its people change.

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QUESTION: Why was the Enlightenment thought of the late 17th and early 18th centuries of great significance to the settlers in the North American colonies?

Answer
Hi Ro,

Like Manifesdestiny, Enlightenment came with industrialization and the desire to expand.  It was viewed that with Enlightenment came the responsibility to make use of the natural world around us.  Also to subjegate those of "lesser value" like people of color and indians.  These of course have been discounted today as invalid.