CHAPTER 1: BEGINNINGS TO 1763

CHAPTER 1:BEGINNINGS TO 1763 EXPLORATION & THE COLONIAL ERA

THE AMERICAS, WEST AFRICA, AND EUROPE – SECTION 1 • Ancient Cultures arrived about 22,000 years ago via a land bridge • Earliest settlers were hunters • Agriculture thrived starting about 5,000 years ago • Some Natives remained Nomadic • Maya, Aztec, and Inca societies flourished

NATIVE AMERICAS IN 1400S • Native American societies in North America were as varied as the geography • The Pueblo (SW) and Iroquois (NE) were two famous tribes • Most of the tribes in America had common religious views, trade patterns & values

WEST AFRICAN SOCIETIES OF THE 1400S • Long established, sophisticated societies existed in Western Africa • The Kingdom of Songhai controlled trans-Sahara trade • Kingdom of Benin and Kongo were two famous dynasties • Village and family bonds formed the basis of life

EUROPEAN SOCIETIES OF THE 1400S • European villages had a long tradition of social hierarchy – complete with nobles, merchants & peasants • Christianity played a critical role – religious leaders had power • The Reformation in the early 1500s led to a split in the church Martin Luther

EUROPEAN EXPLORATION • The countries of Portugal, Spain, France and England explored in the late 1400s for God, Gold, and Glory • Improved mapmaking, better sailboats, compasses, astrolabes, Prince Henry– all led to better exploration

SPANISH NORTH AMERICA – SECTION 2 • Columbus crosses the Atlantic in October of 1492 and lands in San Salvador (“Holy Savior”) • He spent about 3 months exploring Islands in the Bahamas • Europeans used advanced weapons to force locals into labor: Plantation System • Disease devastated Native population

IMPACT OF COLUMBUS • On Africans- Before slave trade ended in the 1800s, 10 million Africans taken • On Europeans- Biggest voluntary migration in world history • On Trade-Columbian Exchange meant new goods & products flowed between continents

The Columbian Biological Exchange

SPAIN CLAIMS A NEW EMPIRE • Spanish explorers (Conquistadors) seized much of the Americas • Cortes conquered the Aztecs in Mexico • Pizzaro conquered the Incas in Peru • Exploitation of local populations was significant – Encomienda System

SPAIN EXPLORES SOUTHWEST AND WESTERN AMERICA • Mid-1500s, Spain explored much of what is today the SW & West of the USA • New Mexico settled by Spanish priest who converted Natives (Pueblos) • Texas area had 30 expeditions in 16th century • California was site of numerous missions California Missions

English Exploration/Settlement • English showed little interest until reign of Elizabeth I. • She supported “Sea Dogs” to confront the Spanish (Drake, Hawkins) and shared in the profits! • Conflict with Spain lasted until the 1560’s!

English Exploration/Settlement • Elizabeth I saw Catholics as potential “traitors”, after the Pope called her a heretic. • She drove the Irish Catholics off their land and replaced them with Englishmen. • Used starvation and mass slaughter to destroy the Catholic “savages” • (Note precedent here)

Joint Stock Companies • Corpoartion • Shareholders own the business • More shares you have, the more power • London Company and Plymouth Company • First of these Joint Stock Companies • London company became Virginia Company • Plymouth totally disbanded • King wanted no part unless he received a charter • King’s Charter • Received 20% of all gold and silver

EARLY BRITISH COLONIES – SECTION 3 • Beginning in the early 1600s, the English established colonies along the eastern coast of North America • 1607: Jamestown was first to be settled • John Smith led this group of settlers • Colony struggled at first, then was saved by Tobacco crop

Jamestown • First successful English colony • Goal was to make MONEY! • Most settlers were “Gentlemen” who did not want to work. Assumed that Indians would submit to, and feed the settlers • Almost led to failure of the colony.

Jamestown/John Smith • Instilled discipline • Natural leader – fought the Turks • Set rules about hygiene and work • “He who will not work, shall not eat” • Negotiated truce “Powhatan Confederacy” with local Indians.

John Rolfe / Brown Gold • What saved the colony? “Brown Gold” • Most of the profit for the colony was made by planting tobacco. • John Rolfe – Married Pocahontas, not John Smith – Hollywood story only!

Virginia Colony / Labor • How to attract labor? • Headright System: 50 acres of land given to those who paid their way to the colonies. • Indentured Servitude: Land given in exchange for 4-7 years of labor. • ½ died before gaining their freedom. • 75% of the 130,00 Englishmen who migrated to the Chesapeake area were Indentured Servants.

1619 Virginia • Slaves: Initially treated as Indentured Servants • House of Burgesses: • Colony abandoned military rule and provided for an elected assembly. The first elected legislative body that could make laws for the colony based on English Common Law.

PURITANS CREATE A “NEW ENGLAND” • The 16th century Reformation caused a split in the Christian Church; Catholics and Protestants • One extreme group of Protestant reformers – the Puritans sought to cleanse or “purify” their religion of all traces of Catholicism PURITAN, OR “PILGRIM”

New England Colonies • Formed as a haven for religious freedom. • Pilgrims: • Myths of the Pilgrims • Mayflower Compact: • Showed that power of government came from the people!

New England Colonies • Other group of NE settlers: Puritans • Massachusetts Bay Colony (MBC) formed in response to crackdown led by Charles II. • Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of Catholic influences. • Colony founded in 1630 by John Winthrop. • “City upon a Hill”

COLONISTS MEET RESISTANCE • New England Colonists (Puritans) soon conflicted with the Native Americans over land & religion • King Philip’s War was fought in 1675 between the Natives and Puritans ending a year later with many dead and the Natives retreating

1630-50/Religion, Politics, Dissent • Puritan leaders tried to enforce conformity of Puritan orthodoxy. • Basically a THEOCRACY! • Residents had to attend services and pay taxes to the church. • Only those who were members of the church could vote. • Puritans supported education: Harvard, etc.

1630-50/Religion, Politics, Dissent • Puritan Church: • No hierarchy • Run by men • Members had to go through a “Conversion Experience” • Self-denial • Self-examination • Repentance • Public profession of grace

1630-50/Religion, Politics, Dissent • Dissent: • Roger Williams: • Preached separation of church and state • Founded Rhode Island • Anne Hutchinson: • Proponent of Antinomianism – faith and Gods grace was enough to get into heaven. • Thomas Hooker:

Decline of Puritanism • Large Population • Dissent • Stuart Restoration (1660) • Decline in 2nd/3rd generation conversion • Half-Way Covenant • Salem Witch Trials

Chesapeake Societies • Government in VA: • 1619: • House of Burgesses founded • First elected (by land owners) legislative body in colonies. • Bi-Cameral: House and Governors council.

Chesapeake Societies • Anglican church was most prominent • Some religious toleration was present • Religion less important that in NE – secondary mainly due to lack of clergy and churches • All citizens had to pay for the support of the church, whether members or not.

Maryland • The first proprietary colony, founded by Cecilius Calvert • Created as a haven for Catholics and to make a profit. • Act of Religious toleration: • Protected Catholics from persecution • First law affirming freedom of worship

Labor in the Chesapeake • Labor demands to grow tobacco brought 100,000+ to area by 1700. • 90% indentured servants • Low life expectancy • Low birth rate: WHY? • Conflicts between indentured servants and planter class led to many inequalities.

Bacon’s Rebellion • First uprising in the American colonies between the “haves” and the “have-nots” • Causes: • Unfair taxation, social inequalities, unequal voting rights, relations with Native Americans • Results: • Indentured servants too difficult to control. Led to use of African Slaves

SETTLING THE MIDDLE COLONIES • Dominated by Dutch and Quaker settlers, the Middle Colonies were founded in the mid-1600s • William Penn led Quakers as they colonized Pennsylvania and Delaware

ENGLAND’S COLONIES PROSPER • Throughout the 1600s and 1700s, more British Colonies were established • By 1752, the English Crown had assumed more & more responsibility for the 13 colonies • Mercantilism & Navigation Acts were two such ways that the English government controlled the colonies King George III

MERCANTILISM: AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN WHICH NATIONS SEEK TO INCREASE THEIR WEALTH BY OBTAINING GOLD & SILVER AND WITH A FAVORABLE BALANCE OF TRADE MERCANTILISM

NAVIGATION ACTS • 1651- England’s Parliament passed a series of laws known as the Navigation Acts • These laws restricted the colonies shipping & trade • Ships, destinations, crews, goods: All strictly regulated by the English • The colonies were developing a spirit of self-determination. Therefore, they were NOT happy with these restrictions

THE COLONIES COME OF AGE – SECTION 4 • New England, Middle Colonies, and the South – all developed distinct economies and societies • In the South, rural Plantations with a single cash crop were common • Small Southern farmers (Germans, Scots, Irish) and African slaves made up the majority of people Southern Plantation

THE MIDDLE PASSAGE • During the 17th century, Africans endured a transatlantic crossing from Africa to the North American Colonies • Cruelty characterized the months long journey – 13% died on route

AFRICANS MAINTAIN PARTS OF THEIR CULTURE • Despite enslavement, Africans coped with the horrors of slavery via music, dance, and storytelling • Slaves also resisted their position of subservience by faking illness, breaking tools, or work slowdowns • Others were more radical and tried escape & revolt

NORTHERN COLONIES COMMERCE THRIVES • The development of cities, expansion of trade, and diverse economies gradually made the North radically different from the South • Philly was the 2nd largest British port • Farming differed from the South: smaller, more diverse crops in North LIBERTY BELL

Rebellion and War • “Restoration Monarchs” • Charles II • James II • Colonization of: NY, NJ, PA, DE. Each were proprietary colonies

Glorious Revolution • Pro-Catholic tendencies by James II led Parliament to make a change: • William and Mary named King/Queen • Agreed to: • Limited Monarchy • Superiority of Parliament over the Crown • Results in Europe and America?

THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE GREAT AWAKENING • 1700s: An intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment began in Europe and a religious movement known as the Great Awakening started in the Colonies • The Enlightenment emphasized reason, science, and observation and led to the discovery of natural laws • Copernicus, Galileo, Franklin and Newton were key figures

RELIGIOUS REVIVAL: THE GREAT AWAKENING • A series of religious revivals aimed at restoring devotion & piety swept through the colonies in the mid-1700s • Jonathan Edwards was a Puritan priest from New England who was instrumental in the movement • Fire & Brimstone style of worship; large, emotionally charged crowds • Like the Enlightenment the movement stressed the importance of the individual

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR • Competition in North America led to a war (1754-1763) between old rivals France and England • The French in North America were tradesmen (furs) not long-term inhabitants • Ohio River valley was the site of the conflict • The Colonists supported the British while the Natives supported the French FRENCH INDIAN WAR BY NAT YOUNGBLOOD

BRITAIN DEFEATS AN OLD ENEMY • While the French had early victories, the British led by William Pitt and George Washington eventually defeated the French • Treaty of Paris ends the war in 1763 • Brits claim most of North America including Florida (from French ally Spain) & Canada • Native Americans also realized a French loss was a Native American loss WILLIAM PITT ON A COIN

CHAPTER 1: BEGINNINGS TO 1763