ENGLISH COLONIZATION OF NORTH AMERICA

1. ENGLISH COLONIZATION OF NORTH AMERICA

2. THINK BACK- Why was England now able to send explorers and settlers to the New World?

3. The first English colony in North America was established at Roanoke Island (near present-day North Carolina) by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. • The first group at Roanoke decided to return to England. The second group arrived in 1587 and began building a colony. READ PAGE 71 IN YOUR TEXTBOOK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SETTLERS ON ROANOKE ISLAND.

4. JAMESTOWN • In 1606, several groups of merchants applied for CHARTERS from King James I to organize settlements in North America. • The VIRGINIA COMPANY, received a charter and sent 3 ships of settlers.

5. The ships entered Chesapeake Bay in 1607. They sailed up the James River and named their settlement JAMESTOWN. • Jamestown was built on a peninsula so it could be defended against attack, but because of its location it lacked good farmland.

6. The main goal of the Virginia Company was to make a profit for investors. Most of the settlers were gold-seekers and noblemen who were not accustomed to hard work. • They spent their time searching for gold and silver instead of planting food.

7. Many died from disease and starvation. The colony survived only because of the leadership of JOHN SMITH. • A period of hardship followed Smith’s departure from Jamestown.

8. TOBACCO SAVES THE COLONY! • The Virginia colonists finally found a way to make money—John Rolfe discovered that the soil in Virginia was good for growing tobacco, a cash crop which would bring great wealth to the colony.

9. Slavery • In 1619, 20 African slaves were sold to Virginia planters to work in the fields. • Until1640, most African laborers in Jamestown were free. • Slavery was first recognized in Virginia law in the 1660’s.

10. Another economic improvement occurred when settlers were allowed to own their own land. • Private ownership of land meant that colonists could grow their own food for a profit, so they began working harder, which made the colony more successful.

11. Anyone who paid their own passage to America received 100 hundred acres of land. This encouraged thousands of people to move to Virginia. • In 1619, the Virginia Company sent 90 women to Jamestown so that the number of families would grow, making Virginia more stable.

12. Government • In 1619, the Virginia Company agreed to let colonists have a say in their government. • Ten towns sent 2 representatives called BURGESSES to an assembly called THE HOUSEOF BURGESSES that had the right to make laws for the colony. • THIS WAS THE FIRST FORM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN THE ENGLISH COLONIES.

13. In the 1620’s, the Virginia Company faced financial problems. King James cancelled the company’s charter and made Jamestown England’s first ROYAL COLONY in America.

15. As the Virginia colony grew and prospered, a new group of settlers sailed for English America in search of religious freedom.

16. THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES THE PILGRIMS AND THE PURITANS

17. The Anglican Church was the official church of England. • Many people objected to the practices of the Church of England (they DISSENTED and were then PERSECUTED).

18. Catholics were persecuted for their beliefs. Protestants were persecuted for their beliefs. • SEPARATISTS—set up their own church. • Puritans—reform the Anglican Church.

19. The Separatists made arrangements with the Virginia Company to settle in Virginia colony. • They would be allowed to practice their religion freely and in return would share any profit they made with the company.

20. THE PILGRIMS WERE SEPARATISTS.

21. September 1620—The Mayflower left England for Virginia colony. They missed Virginia and landed on Cape Cod at PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

22. Because they landed outside of Virginia and its laws, they needed to make rules to govern themselves. • THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT (rules to govern the Plymouth colony)

23. The Pilgrims survived the first winter because Native Americans (Squanto and Samoset) helped them. A year later, the Pilgrims thanked the Indians by hosting the first Thanksgiving in English America.

24. In 1625, Charles I became King of England and persecution of Puritans increased. • 1629—a group of Puritans formed the MASSACHUSETTS BAY COMPANY and a charter was granted to establish a colony north of Plymouth, in BOSTON. John Winthrop was chosen to lead the group.

25. 1630’s—The Great Migration. • 15,000 Puritans left England for Massachusetts to escape religious persecution and economic hardship.

26. PURITAN GOVERNMENT • At first, Winthrop and his assistants made the laws. • 1634—an elected assembly (General Court) was created. • Adult male church members could vote for a GOVERNOR and ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. Later, voters had to be property owners.

27. Puritans came to English America to escape religious persecution, BUT THEY WERE VERY INTOLERANT THEMSELVES --- they persecuted anyone who disagreed with their views. This persecution led to the development of other colonies in New England.

28. The Virginia colony and Massachusetts colony became the first two of the 13 English colonies in America.