How did the enclosure movement foster England's desire to colonize?
A) The enclosure movement created products that could be marketed and sold in the New World, so colonization was seen as necessary for the English economy.
B) The enclosure movement needed the resources of the New World to produce its products, as sheep were only found in North America at that point in history.
C) The enclosure movement led to landless, unemployed farmers wandering England, and sending them to colonies was seen as a way to relieve the problems this trend created.
D) The enclosure movement reduced the amount of space in prisons in favor of creating additional housing and, thus, the New World was seen as a place to send the prisoners.
E) The enclosure movement caused the population in England to fall dramatically, so there were many opportunities for employment and little reason for Englishmen to travel to New England.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The enclosure movement led to the displacement of many farmers, who became landless and unemployed. This created a problem for England, as there were large numbers of people without work or land, which caused social and economic unrest. Colonization was seen as a possible solution to this problem, as it was a way to both alleviate unemployment in England and to acquire new land and resources for the growing economy. Colonization also offered the possibility of new markets for English goods, which could be sold in the colonies, helping to further drive economic growth.

How Did the Enclosure Movement Foster England's Desire to Colonize