What were the goals of English colonizers?

• A. The Puritans and Catholics fled religious persecution; Chesapeake wanted gold/profit.
• B. They sought to convert Native Americans to Buddhism.
• C. They sought to establish a national bank.
• D. They sought to build a network of trading posts.

Answer: (A)

English colonization in America was driven by two main forces: offering religious refuge for groups like the Puritans and Catholics, and pursuing economic opportunity for investors in ventures such as the Chesapeake colonies. The Puritans and Catholics sought a place to practice faith free from persecution in England, while investors hoped to profit from new lands, resources, and crops like tobacco. This combination of religious motive and economic incentive best fits the described goals. The other ideas don’t match the historical pattern: Buddhism was not a target of English missions there; establishing a national bank wasn’t a motive of the colonization effort; and although trade existed, creating a broad network of trading posts wasn’t the primary aim of the early English colonies.