U.S. History: 1600-1860

1. U.S. History: 1600-1860

2. “Discovery” of America • Portugal reaches Spice Islands by sailing east, Spain sails west • 1492: Italian Christopher Columbus convinces Queen Isabella of Spain to fund voyage • Reaches Cuba & Hispañola, eventually explores all Caribbean islands and Honduras • Thought he was exploring The Indies

3. Discovery & Settlement • European society is based on hierarchy (ranks/class) • Also based on the nuclear family • Christianity shapes European world view • Reformation causes conflict between two Christian faiths: • Catholics vs. Protestants • England and the Netherlands= Protestant Christians • Spain and France= Catholic Christians • European powers begin to create colonies in New World

4. The 1st English Colony • 1607: John Smith establishes colony of Jamestown, VA • Joint-stock company—Virginia Co. • Headright system: get to VA and get 50 acres of land • If you don’t pay your own way, you work off what you owe as an indentured servant, get freedom and land when debt is paid • Virginia adopts tobacco as cash crop, grows rich • Africans brought to work as indentured servants, later slaves • Bacon’s Rebellion, taxation without representation

5. Puritan “New England” • Puritans were persecuted for religions beliefs in England, come to America, est. Plymouth Colony • Second group est. Massachusetts Bay Colony • Puritans believe new colony to be “shining city on a hill” to spread it’s light to the world • Strong link b/w church and state cause some to split into new colonies: Providence (R.I.), New Hampshire, Connecticut • King Philip’s War fought b/w Native Americans and Puritans, many left dead, Puritans win

6. The Middle Colonies • Henry Hudson sails up the Hudson River for the Dutch, est. colony of New Netherland • Colony settled by Dutch, French, Scandinavians, etc. • English see New N. as a “wedge” b/w N.E. and VA, take over colony in bloodless takeover • Duke of York takes over, renames New York • William Pennest Pennsylvania as Quaker colony

7. Business in the Colonies • Northern colonies=pre-industrial, mercantile • Engage in trade, manufacturing, strong gov. • Middle colonies=pre-industrial, mercantile • Engage in trade, manufacturing, diverse population • Southern colonies=agrarian, slave economy • Cash crops, slaves, aristocratic, wealthy • England growing rich off of colonies, begins to heavily tax the colonies

8. Britain & British North America • The United Kingdom of Great Britain= England & Scotland (1707) • King & Parliament share power, king guides Parliament but most power with PM • Hanover Dynasty (German), gains power, Parliament gains more power • Prime Minister William Pitt speaks for middle class: “expand trade, empire” • British government “controls” colonies, but Americans elect legislatures to run them, avoid British intrusion in their business

10. Revolution In The Air • Britain wants to pay for Seven Years’ War by taxing American colonists • 1765: Stamp Act, repealed in 1766, but damage done • 1774: First Continental Congress, Philly • 1775: Fighting begins at Lexington • 1776: Second Continental Congress declares independence, Thomas Jefferson • Continental Army unorganized

11. War For Independence • Many European powers see helping Americans as way to spite British • France: arms, money, officers for training; king recognizes the United States (1778) • Spain & The Netherlands also offer support • 1781: General Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington at Yorktown • 1783: Treaty of Paris ends war, establishes an independent American state