Immigration to North America began with Spanish settlers in the 16th century and French and English settlers in the 17th century. During the 17th century, there was a major wave of free and indentured labor from England and other parts of Europe as well as the importation of slaves from Africa and the Caribbean.

By 1607, the first permanent British settlement of the United States was established in Jamestown, Virginia. As England looked to establish territory alongside Spain and France in North America, English settlers, who believed there was gold in America, were also looking for economic opportunities and religious freedom. Movement into this area by both groups resulted in the establishment of the 13 English colonies.

Click on each colony in the map below to learn more about the establishment of each of the colonies.

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Source: Map, US States, colonies, World Atlas

After reviewing the information about the 13 English colonies, answer the following questions.

Based on the map above, what geographic feature does each of the 13 colonies have in common?
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Answer: Each colony borders a body of water. Most colonies border the Atlantic Ocean with the exception of Pennsylvania which borders Lake Erie.
Which of the 13 English colonies had been previously settled by the Dutch?
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Answer: New Jersey and New York had previously been settled by the Dutch. Both of these territories were seized by England in 1664.
Most of the major settlements in the colonies were founded near important waterways or bodies of water. Why do you think this was important to the location of these settlements?
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Answer: Waterways and bodies of water are important to cities, towns, and large settlements because they provide routes for transportation and trade. It is also important for settlers to have access to water for irrigation, cleaning, and for cooking and drinking.