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Europe on the Eve of Colonization. United States I. 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. Economic Growth.
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Europe on the Eve of Colonization United States I
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
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
Impact of the Crusades • Taste for exotic products • Experience running sugar plantations • Desire to move away from the control of Italian city states
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!!!
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Shift in policy • Experimented with harsh military discipline • “Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall” • Tended to discourage immigration
London Company • London concerned about disintegration • New Settlers arrived only to die • Facing financial ruin • Concealed state of affairs • Desperately looking for marketable product
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
Changes in 1619 • Company began transporting women • Created 1st legislative body in English America • House of Burgesses • Landowners elected • Subject to approval of company
Settlers still having problems making a profit • Headright system expanded out the colony—less control over widely spread colonists. • Further strained Indian relations
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
Colonist forced behind fortified walls • Economic activity ceased • London Company went bankrupt • 1624—King James dissolves company • Virginia now a royal colony
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
Tobacco • Shaped every aspect of Virginia society • Grabbed land close to rivers • Necessitated a large labor force • 9 month a year crop
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
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
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
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.
English Reformation • Anglican church closely resembled Catholic church • ‘Middle way” satisfied most but not all • Puritans felt reforms did not go far enough
Puritan Demands • Purify the church by: • Eliminating Bishops • Simplifying church services • Emphasizing God’s control • Emphasis on hard work
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
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
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
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
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