What Factors Drew People Away from the British Isles and Towards the New World? Did the Attractions of the New World Live Up to Their Promise?

It can be shown that large numbers of people decided to venture from the British Isles in the 1600s to colonise the new settlements in Virginia, in most cases believing that they would be bettering their position in life. They used their skills to work a new land where they would eventually (if an indentured servant) be able to own their own piece of land, an amount of typically fifty acres, and if a stockholder of the Virginia Company or not an indentured servant themselves, their fifty acres and as much again for any servants that they might send or bring to the colony. …