Europe on the Eve of Colonization

1. Europe on the Eve of Colonization United States I

2. Europe in 1400 • Very backward place • Most Europeans, like most Native Americans were simple farmers • Outside the primary Asian trade routes • Muslims controlled trade with Asia • Europeans wants spices and exotic products

3. Economic Growth • European economy grows during Middle Ages • Population growth—begins to recover from plague • Unlike China, no European nations possessed a self-contained economy. • All needed to trade with each other and outside • Competed with each other for access to resources and mastering new military techniques—long term benefit

4. Impact of the Crusades • Taste for exotic products • Experience running sugar plantations • Desire to move away from the control of Italian city states

5. Portugal leads the way • Rather Surprising • Small kingdom—fewer than 1 million citizens • Recently united-Muslims driven out • Maritime traditions lagged behind other regions • Small merchant class-little capital • However—Excellent Location!!!

6. Prince Henry the Navigator • Member of Portuguese Royal family and member of crusading religious order (Order of Christ) • Used revenues from order to sponsor 15 voyages along the African Coast

7. Advancements by Portugal • Ability to navigate high seas beyond sight of land • Capacity to defeat any non-European fleet on the world’s oceans. • Mapped the prevailing winds and currents of the oceans • Copied Arab ship designs—improved for open ocean travel. • Learned to mount heavy cannons on the deck.

8. Slave Culture • Developed sophisticated slave culture • Supported exploration with sugar plantations of offshore islands • 1st acquired slaves by capturing on African coast • Raids upset coastal people • After 1450, developed slave trade structure • Small forts—factories • Buy slaves from local rulers • Nearly all slaves in the Atlantic slave trade were enslaved by fellow Africans. • Europeans exploited rivalries

9. Economic Impulse • Precious metals was the initial impulse • Crops and slaves kept the motivation alive • Before 1800’s, more than 2/3 of people who crossed the Atlantic were slaves. • Important to remember that Atlantic slave trade was not some exception to the story of freedom and liberty, it was the norm • Few Europeans who crossed expected to work • Men of prestige and wealth simply did not do physical labor

10. Spanish Exploration • Spanish moved more slowly than Portuguese • Unification of Castile and Aragon • Strong crusading tendencies • Desire to spread Christianity to wider world • Desire for wealth and commercial opportunity • Environment that producing Conquistadors

11. Christopher Columbus • Italian by birth, Portuguese trained • Wants to sail west—Portuguese laugh • Circumference of the globe • Makes plea to Spanish crown • “Throw-away” fleet of three ships

12. Columbus • Lucky he ran into Americas • Believed he found Asia—actually islands in the Bahamas • Returned three more times • Never finds riches Spanish government demanded

13. Conquistadors • Discoveries unleashed a horde of conquistadors on the Caribbean • Not seeking permanent society • Just plunder • In less than 20 years, natives exterminated • Some move to mainland • Hernan Cortes--Aztecs

14. Impact • Over 450,000 migrants between 1492-1650 • Mostly single men • Most intermarry with Indians and blacks • Spain regarded Americas as source of precious metals • Between 1500 and 1650 shipped 200 tons of gold and 16,000 tons of silver • Fail to develop industry—just depend on annual shipments from America.

15. English join the game • English get involved in international activities in the 1500’s • Moscovy Company—Northern route to China around Scandinavia • Martin Frobisher—search for the Northwest passage

16. English exploration • Projects to the Americas received strong, but unofficial support • Too weak to challenge Spain openly, but wanted to break Spanish monopoly in New World • Elizabeth I encouraged “Sea Dogs” to attack Spanish shipping

17. Economic Growth • England building a strong commercial class • Prosperity built on wool and coal production • Growing industrial production • Interest in colonial development to expand economy • Provide outlet for excess population • Source of raw materials • Buffer against Catholic expansion

18. Irish Experiment • England’s first colony was Ireland • Learned to subdue a population and seize its lands • Seized large parcels of land from Irish • Established semi-military “plantations” • Served as model for later colonies in the new world • Compared Native Americans to the “Wild” Irish

19. Sir Humphrey Gilbert • Oxford Educated soldier • Experience with English conquest of Ireland—tolerated no opposition • Secures Royal patent to develop colony in Americas • Set up expedition in 1583 • Lands in Newfoundland • Lost at sea

20. Unpromising Start • By 1570’s English ready to begin challenging Spanish control over Americas • English adventurers make series of mistakes between 1575 and 1600 • Gain valuable information about seas, supplies and finance

21. Sir Walter Raleigh • Provided example of what not to do • Ventures encouraged, but not funded by crown • Sends of expedition to Virginia region, named after Queen Elizabeth • In 1585, sends expedition under Richard Grenville to Roanoke Island • Colonists do rather well, but fail to get re-supplied • Return home with Francis Drake in 1586

22. Lost Colony • In 1587, launched 2nd venture • Includes men, women and even children • Under leadership of John White • Returns to England for more supplies and colonists • War with Spain prevents return until 1590 • Find colony deserted • “CROATAN” carved into tree. • Fate of “lost” colony remains a mystery. • Best guess—absorbed into neighboring groups of natives

23. Richard Hakluyt • English writer • Never visited America—shapes English public opinion toward colonization • The Principall Navigations, Voyages, and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589) • Theme—England needed American colonies • English settlers would provide natural resources and grow rich in the process • Painted a picture of paradise on earth • Jamestown would show the harsh realities

24. Problems • Individuals could not support colonies • Merchants more interested in Mediterranean and Russia • Need for an influx of capital to make colonization work. • Finally happens in early 1600’s.

25. Virginia Company • 1606, King James chartered Virginia Company to colonize North America • Two Headquarters—Plymouth and London • Plymouth Company tries colony in Maine • Abandons in a year

26. Joint Stock Companies • Moved away from individually sponsored colonies • Sold shares to investors to raise money • Investors expected to profit in return • Spread out responsibility • Little chance for profit in early colonies

27. London Company • Decided to colonize Chesapeake Bay area. • Sent out 3 ships and 104 men • Settled on peninsula in the James river. • Searching for gold and silver • Cure for syphilis • Planned to force Indians as laborers

28. Jamestown • Jamestown was a deathtrap • Only 38 of original 104 survived the first year. • Colony had too many gentlemen and specialized craftsmen (perfumer) • Survivors owed their existence to John Smith • Dedicated himself to survival of community • Work at least 4 hours per day

29. Continued Chaos in Jamestown • London Company sends over more settlers • John Smith injured-returns to England • Settlers provoke war with Natives • 1610 settlers ready to abandon settlement • In nick of time, new governor arrives • Martial law • Expanded settlements • Tobacco—John Rolfe

30. Shift in policy • Experimented with harsh military discipline • “Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall” • Tended to discourage immigration

31. London Company • London concerned about disintegration • New Settlers arrived only to die • Facing financial ruin • Concealed state of affairs • Desperately looking for marketable product

32. Land Policies • First Settlers expected to work together • Work for food • Governor assigned land in small plots to colonists who finished their terms of service • In 1616, Company instituted the Headright system • 50 acres to anyone who paid their way to Virginia • 50 more acres for each additional person

33. Changes in 1619 • Company began transporting women • Created 1st legislative body in English America • House of Burgesses • Landowners elected • Subject to approval of company

34. Settlers still having problems making a profit • Headright system expanded out the colony—less control over widely spread colonists. • Further strained Indian relations

35. War with Indians • Warfare was on-going throughout much of the early history of Jamestown • Union between John Rolfe and Pocahontas temporarily calmed events • Revived in 1622 • Brutality on both sides

36. Colonist forced behind fortified walls • Economic activity ceased • London Company went bankrupt • 1624—King James dissolves company • Virginia now a royal colony

37. Search for marketable product • 1610 Start growing tobacco • Popular with wealth English society • 1617 1st cargo arrives in England • Very profitable • Settlers start planting everywhere • Supply and demand

38. Tobacco • Shaped every aspect of Virginia society • Grabbed land close to rivers • Necessitated a large labor force • 9 month a year crop

39. Help Wanted! • Need labor to make a profit • Imported indentured servants • Between 1625-40, 1000 servants arrived each year • Mostly young males—best workers • Ultimately, reality scares off pool of indentured servants • Plantation owners need to look for new labor source

40. Maryland • Different origins than Virginia but much the same outcome • Vision of George Calvert—Catholic refuge • Charter in 1632—Sweeping powers • Economically in quickly focuses on tobacco

41. Lord Baltimore’s plan • Set up feudal manors in the wilderness • Problem—Few Catholic emigrated to America • Most settlers were Protestants • Social and religious resentments strong in the colony

42. New England colonies • Appropriate –others colonies produce “Non-English” goods, N.E. reproduces mixed economy • Disagreement with England over religion, not economics • Wanted to worship as God commanded not how C. of E. required.

43. English Reformation • Anglican church closely resembled Catholic church • ‘Middle way” satisfied most but not all • Puritans felt reforms did not go far enough

44. Puritan Demands • Purify the church by: • Eliminating Bishops • Simplifying church services • Emphasizing God’s control • Emphasis on hard work

45. Pilgrims • 1606—church in Nottinghamshire leaves C of E • 125 members go into exile in Holland • Holland not a “good fit”—Too liberal • Negotiated with Virginia company for possible travel to America

46. Travel to America • Short on cash • Form joint stock company with perspective emigrants and investors • Agree to pay ½ of future profits • 1620-Mayflower 100 settlers, only 35 Pilgrims

47. America • Land at Cape Cod Bay—North of Virginia Company territory • Decide to stay—late in season • Since outside Virginia Co.—some feel free of all gov. controls • Mayflower Compact—bound all to decisions of the majority • Set precedent—set of rules selected by members

48. New Colony • Arrive in December—tough winter • ½ die including governor • William Bradford takes over • Settlers get lucky • Squanto • Gain political autonomy and private ownership within 10 years

49. Popular Image of the Puritans

50. Popular Image of the Puritans • Nagging critics who condemned liquor and sex • Dressed in drab clothes • Minded their neighbors business • Reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Puritanism