Settler facts for kids

A settler is a person who moves to a new place and makes it their permanent home. They often build houses, farms, and communities there.

Sometimes, a settler who moves to an area that is mostly empty or has very few people is called a pioneer. Pioneers are often seen as the first people to explore and live in a new area.

Historically, settlers have moved for many reasons. Sometimes, they traveled to truly empty lands. However, many times throughout history, settlers moved to lands where other people already lived. This often meant that the original inhabitants had to leave their homes. This process could be very difficult and sometimes involved conflict. Governments or powerful countries sometimes supported these settlement efforts.

Settlers Throughout History

A (1850) depiction of the first medieval settlers arriving in Iceland.

For a long time, people have moved to new places to settle. These movements have shaped the world we live in today.

When Lands Were Already Occupied

Often, settlers moved into lands that were already home to groups of people known as Indigenous peoples. These are the native people who have lived in a place for a very long time. When foreign groups settled in Indigenous territories, it was often a difficult process. This type of settlement is sometimes called settler colonialism. It can lead to the original inhabitants losing their land and way of life.

The Idea of a "Pioneer"

Chilean settlers in Baker River, Patagonia, 1935.

In some parts of the world, like the United States, the word "pioneer" was used for early European settlers. These were people who moved into new areas, often on lands that belonged to Indigenous groups. Pioneers were usually among the first to arrive in an area. Other settlers might come later and join them in building new communities.

Settlers in Different Countries

Throughout history, many countries have seen large groups of people move to new areas.

• In Imperial Russia, the government sometimes encouraged people to move to less populated areas. These settlers were sometimes called "colonists."
• In South Africa, the Boer-Afrikaners made a long journey called the Great Trek to settle new lands.
• In the United States, many settlers traveled long distances, like on the Oregon Trail, to reach new territories in the west.

Early Homes of Settlers

Early North American settlers from Europe often built simple houses called log cabins.

When settlers arrived in a new place, they often built simple homes quickly. In early North America, for example, European settlers often built log cabins. These were basic houses made from logs, providing shelter as they started their new lives.

Modern Examples of Settlement

Even today, the term "settler" is used in different ways around the world.

• In Canada, some people use "settler" to describe non-Indigenous people who live there, especially those of European background. This idea suggests that the process of settlement is still ongoing.
• In the Middle East, the term "settler" is used for people who move into certain areas where there are ongoing political disagreements. For example, some Israelis moved to areas captured in the Six-Day War in 1967. Also, in Cyprus, after a conflict, people from Turkey moved to the northern part of the island.

Why Do People Become Settlers?

People decide to become settlers for many different reasons.

• Many hope to start a new and better life in a new place.
• Some are facing financial difficulties where they live and seek new opportunities.
• Others might be escaping unfair treatment because of their beliefs, culture, or background. For example, the Pilgrims moved to America to find religious freedom.
• Sometimes, governments encourage or even force people to move to new areas.
• In the past, some people were sent to new lands as a form of punishment, like convicted criminals from England sent to Australia.

See also

In Spanish: Colono para niños