What type of document gave English settlers permission to start a colony?charterleasedeedtitle

The type of document that gave English settlers permission to start a colony is known as a charter.

A charter is a formal document issued by a sovereign authority that outlines the rights, privileges, and obligations granted to a group or an individual. In the context of English colonization, these charters were essential as they defined the governance structure and territorial claims for the new settlements. For example, the Virginia Charter, granted in 1606, allowed the Virginia Company to establish a settlement in North America, leading to the founding of Jamestown in 1607. Such charters not only provided legal grounding for colonization but also set the stage for the establishment of colonial governments that would oversee the administration, land distribution, and regulation of trade within the new colonies.