Discourse Concerning Western Planting facts for kids
The Discourse Concerning Western Planting was an important paper written by Richard Hakluyt in 1584. It was created to persuade Queen Elizabeth I to support plans for English settlements in North America. It also aimed to get rich English traders and landowners to invest their money in these new colonies.
Richard Hakluyt gave this document to the Queen in secret. This allowed him to speak openly about why England should start colonies. He could also freely discuss the biggest problem: the powerful country of Spain. About half of the document focused on how to deal with Spain.
Hakluyt got many ideas from his friends in the navy. They believed in being bold, like the famous sailor Francis Drake. Hakluyt explained that a colony in America could be a great naval base. From there, English ships could easily reach the West Indies. This would allow them to attack Spanish forts or capture ships carrying valuable treasure back to Spain.
An American base would also help England attack Spanish ships fishing in the northern waters. These ships supplied Spain with important food. With a colony, England could strike at the heart of Spain's power, which came from its overseas territories.
Contents
Why England Should Colonize America
The "Discourse" included 21 main points explaining why England should create colonies in North America. Here are some of the most important reasons:
Spreading Religion and Power
- Colonizing would help spread the Protestant religion, which Queen Elizabeth I led.
- New ports in the Americas would make trading easier. English ships would not have to deal with Catholic countries in Europe.
- Gaining land in the Western Hemisphere would challenge Spain's old claim to control all new lands.
Economic Benefits
- North America had many valuable goods that England needed.
- Colonies could provide jobs for people who were unemployed in England. This would also help the population grow.
- New trade would increase the Queen's tax money from customs duties.
- England needed to find its own gold, as Spain had become very powerful from its gold.
- The document listed 23 ways that settling in America would make England rich.
- It also listed many resources and goods that could be found in America.
- American ports would allow English ships to stop Spanish ships coming from the Caribbean Sea.
- Spain's control in the West Indies was weak.
- North of 23 degrees latitude, there were no Spanish settlements to stop English expansion.
- If England could break through Spain's defenses in the West Indies, Spain had nothing else in the Western Hemisphere.
- The Spanish were very cruel in the West Indies, even worse than the Turks.
- Creating colonies would make the English Navy stronger. It would increase the need for sailors and improve their skills.
Strategic Location and Exploration
- Ireland was a perfect port for sailing to the west. Ships from southwest Ireland would not bother other nations' trade routes.
- England needed to quickly establish long-term settlements before other countries did.
- Opportunities in America would bring more adventurous people into leadership roles for England.
- England could find the Northwest Passage, a sea route through North America to China.
- England had a legal claim to the North American coast, and it needed to act on it.
