Colonial America was defined by a severe labor shortage that gave birth to forms of unfree labor such as slavery and indentured servitude, and by a British policy of benign neglect (salutary neglect) that permitted the development of an American spirit distinct from that of its European founders. "The United States was the first major colony successfully to revolt against colonial rule. In this sense, it was the first 'new nation.' They also sought economic opportunity and practiced a form of direct democracy throu...

Colonial America was defined by a severe labor shortage that gave birth to forms of unfree labor such as slavery and indentured servitude, and by a British policy of benign neglect (salutary neglect) that permitted the development of an American spirit distinct from that of its European founders. "The United States was the first major colony successfully to revolt against colonial rule. In this sense, it was the first 'new nation.' They also sought economic opportunity and practiced a form of direct democracy through town meetings. They had a strong work ethic. Virginia and the other Southern colonies were settled by people seeking economic opportunities.
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The explorations and settlements of the English in the American colonies and Spanish in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, often led to violent conflicts with the American Indians.
The New England colonies developed an economy based on shipbuilding, fishing, lumbering, small-scale subsistence farming, and eventually, manufacturing. The colonies prospered, reflecting the Puritans’ strong belief in the values of hard work and thrift.
A strong belief in private ownership of property and free enterprise characterized colonial life.
* All original power resides in the people, and they consent to enter into a “social contract” among themselves to form a government to protect their rights. In return, the people promise to obey the laws and rules established by their government, establishing a system of “ordered liberty.”

* · Government’s powers are limited to those the people have consented to give to it. Whenever government becomes a threat to the people’s natural rights, it breaks the social contract and the people have the right to alter or overthrow it.

* · Locke’s ideas about the sovereignty and rights of the people were radical and challenged the centuries-old practice throughout the world of dictatorial rule by kings, emperors, and tribal chieftains.
American settlers poured westward from the coastal states into the Midwest, Southwest, and Texas, seeking economic opportunity in the form of land to own and farm.
The belief that it was America’s “Manifest Destiny” to stretch from Atlantic to Pacific provided political support for territorial expansion.
By 1828, Americans began to see Americans as equals and were more eager to participate in the electoral process.
The Northern states developed an industrial economy based on manufacturing. They favored high protective tariffs to protect Northern manufacturers from foreign competition.