England seemed relatively slow to jump on the exploration bandwagon, taking over a hundred years after Columbus’ voyage to start a permanent colony. Name and explain in detail the two major factors we discussed in class that happened in England that affected the speed of their exploration in the New World.

Answer 1

One major factor that affected the speed of England's exploration in the New World was internal conflict and instability. During the 16th century, England experienced a period of political and religious turmoil known as the Reformation. This included the split from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England, as well as the reigns of monarchs like Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. These changes led to a series of wars, rebellions, and power struggles that diverted the attention and resources of the English government away from exploration efforts. The country was focused on maintaining internal stability and consolidating power, rather than investing in overseas ventures.

Another major factor was England's geographic location and relationship with other European powers. Unlike Spain and Portugal, which had direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and established maritime traditions, England was located on the periphery of Europe and had to contend with more powerful and established rivals. The English also faced competition from other European nations, such as France and the Netherlands, who were also vying for control of overseas territories. This meant that England had to overcome significant diplomatic and military challenges in order to establish a presence in the New World. Additionally, the English initially lacked the naval strength and experience of their European counterparts, which further hindered their ability to engage in exploration and colonization.

Overall, these factors combined to delay England's entry into the age of exploration and influence the timing and pace of their colonization efforts in the New World. It wasn't until the late 16th century, with the establishment of the Roanoke and Jamestown colonies, that England began to actively pursue overseas expansion and compete with other European powers for control of North America.