【美国精神】第58期

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Explanation:

  When the New World (or North and South America before many Europeans were living there) was discovered (or learned about for the first time), going there was a big adventure (or an exciting experience in one’s life, especially involving travel). European countries were establishing (or creating) colonies, which are areas of land that are far away but that belong to that country. Some of the colonists¹ (or people who live in colonies) went there because they wanted an adventure, but most of them were fleeing (or running away from) something or seeking (or looking for) new opportunities.

  Many of the countries in Europe were oppressive (or very controlling). Some of the people living there could not do all the things they wanted to do. In the countries ruled (or governed) by a king and queen, the people did not have any choice about who their leaders would be. Some of the people who fled Europe were looking for freedom and political liberty so that they could do more of the things they wanted to do and be able to decide what kind of government they wanted to have.

  Other colonists were seeking religious freedom, which is the ability to follow whatever religion they wanted to, or no religion at all. In Europe, many people were persecuted² (or treated unfairly) because of their religious beliefs. They thought that by coming to the colonies they would be able to practice their religion (or follow the teachings of a religion) freely, without anyone telling them that they couldn’t do it.

  Finally, there were colonists who went to the colonies seeking economic opportunity. In many European countries, there was a class system, which is a way of organizing society so that poor people stay poor and rich people stay rich, and it is difficult or impossible for poor people to become rich. People were frustrated³ because they had few or no opportunities to make more money or to live a better and more comfortable life. In the colonies, however, people who were willing to work hard had far fewer limitations, which meant that they could make their lives better if they wanted to. So colonists fled Europe and went to the colonies to seek these economic opportunities to improve life for themselves and their families.

 

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