[GoldenEagles]

Generally speaking, desire for economic gain alone does not give a person the courage required to sail across an unknown ocean to an unknown land. If the only thing that is present in the soul is a desire for material gain, that soul would be effectively barred from making the trip, being ruled by the fear of the possibility of losing its life on the voyage, or losing its life within the harsh conditions that would obtain upon arrival.

People who are ruled by the desire for material gain alone, are more often than not cowards.

No, I think that the core factor for the establishment of the American colonies, was the desire to create a new land where they could exercise their religious beliefs in freedom and peace, something that was completely unknown in the old world. And, in the establishment of such a new land, economics played a very important role.

[TEXOKIE]

BTT for a very insightful and interesting article. Thanks for posting this, GoldenEagles.

[Burdened White Man]

No, I think that the core factor for the establishment of the American colonies, was the desire to create a new land where they could exercise their religious beliefs in freedom and peace, something that was completely unknown in the old world.

Fine. Live in your little mythological dream world. But when you want to find out how the American colonies were actually settled and why I recommend you read a book like Alan Taylor's recent work: American Colonies