 
why were the british colonies in the new world so successful? 
one answer is that poor people had a better chance to make a good living 
in british america than they did at home or in the colonies of other nations. 
the english king and the english parliament (law-making body) were not as 
strict as the french and spanish in governing their colonies. 
the king gave permission to certain business companies to settle and 
govern colonial territories. 
then the company attracted settlers by providing them with transportation 
to america, land, food, and agricultural tools. 
in repayment the company gained exclusive trading rights with the 
settlers. 
poor people could also go to the colonies free of charge as indentured 
servants. 
that is, a man or woman made an agreement (indenture) with the captain of 
a ship. 
in exchange for free passage to america, the captain had the right to sell 
the services of the indentured servant for a period usually of seven years. 
the indentured servant worked for a farmer or a merchant without pay. 
at the end of this time, the settler was free to start his own farm or 
business. 
land was easy to acquire, not only for the rich but also for the poor. 
for instance, in order to draw settlers, the colony of virginia gave 50 
acres to every person who went there and stayed three years. 
the head of a family could receive an additional 50 acres for each family 
member. 
thus, a man with a family of 10 could become owner of 550 acres at no 
cost! 
