Encouraging Colonization: Strategies of the Virginia Companies
What were the strategies used by the Virginia Company of Plymouth & the Virginia Company of London to encourage colonization?
Choose the correct option:
a) Use of joint stock companies
b) Headright system for land allocation
c) Exploitation of social and economic conditions in England
Answer:
The strategies used by the Virginia Company of Plymouth & the Virginia Company of London to encourage colonization include:
a) Use of joint stock companies
b) Headright system for land allocation
c) Exploitation of social and economic conditions in England
The Virginia Company of Plymouth and the Virginia Company of London employed several strategic initiatives to encourage colonization in North America. One of the key strategies was the use of joint stock companies, which pooled together financial resources from multiple investors to fund voyages and establish colonies.
Another important strategy was the implementation of the headright system, which allocated land to settlers and provided additional land for each person they brought with them, whether it be a servant or family member. This incentive of land acquisition motivated English individuals to migrate and start new lives in the colonies.
Furthermore, the Virginia Companies took advantage of the social and economic conditions in England at that time. They presented the colonies as a land of opportunity with promises of wealth and prosperity. Additionally, the colonies served as a new market for English goods and a stronghold for Protestantism, appealing to religious motivations as well.