English Empire

1. English Empire Note in 1707 England and Scotland became unified and from then on known as Britain

2. Reading and discussion prep • If there is a book assigned for the week I will expect you to use that to prepare • If there is not I will post some a extract on-line (usually primary source) I also expect you to give yourself a background knowledge of the subject

3. Role of England • England weak, politically and economically in comparison to Spain. • Henry VII had sponsored John Cabot’s voyages to Canada 1497, lost interest when NW passage not discovered. • Lack of political will, and military capacity to challenge Spain before later 16thC • But- dry run for colonial expansion in Ireland

4. Ireland • Ireland conquered by Normans, but gradually England lost control. • Tudors show renewed interest. • Major military expeditions during Elizabethan period, led by soldiers & adventurers. • Followed up by colonizers, • especially those seeking large land holdings, use of Gaelic Irish as serfs, • frequent atrocities and brutality towards Irish • seen as Catholic, barbaric, sub-humans. • About 200,000 migrants from GB to Ireland 1600-1670, twice number who went to America

5. Ireland as a blueprint • Financed by Joint Stock Companies, same as would finance American colonies • Use of promotional literature to popularize colonization • Attitudes towards native peoples similar • Many of the individuals involved in Irish colonization later involved in American colonization • e.g. • Richard Grenville, • Humphrey Gilbert, • Walter Raleigh.

6. English Imperial Ambitions • Motivation: envy of Spanish treasure from America; wealth helped Spain become most powerful nation; • English policy to break the Iberian monopoly on America due to fear that American wealth, after Henry VIII's split with Rome (1534), could be used against them. • English government sanctioned privateering operations against Spanish. Capturing Spanish treasure ships bringing gold & silver from New World.

7. By 1580 increasingly dangerous to prey on Spanish shipping - suggestion that American base needed. • Idea that American colonies would also ease English reliance on southern Europe for citrus fruits, silks, and vines. • Importance of Propaganda, • Richard Haklyut. • 1st patent to settle in America granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, half brother to Walter Raleigh, permitted him to settle anywhere between Florida and Northern Canada

8. Early British Attempts • Initially England was not successful • Martin Frobsier • Searching for gold and a northwest passge • 3 failed journeys between 1576-1578

9. Humphrey Gilbert • Attempted to settle in Newfoundland – failed, Gilbert dies at sea • John Hawkins and Francis Drake • Successful in the Caribbean But as pirates not settlers • But by 1580 England still had no permanent settlement in Americas

10. Roanoke • Three English voyages to settle North America in 1580s. • The first landed at Roanoke Island, North Carolina on July 13th, 1584, • short lived military expedition which found that the land was suitable for both cultivation and defence, • returned home to England with 2 local Indians, Manteo & Wanchese.

11. Roanoke Island

12. 1585-6, 2nd English Voyage • under Ralph Lane, discovered Chesapeake Bay, ideal as naval base. • Noted for the oil paintings of John White and the descriptions of Thomas Hariot. • But, young male adventurers, with ambitions of land and wealth, not ideal colonists.

13. Indian relations deteriorated, food supply from Indians cut off • Drake arrived summer 1586, seeking re-supply, ends up providing food for colonists, eventually agrees to return them to England

14. The Lost Colony • Third voyage 1587: very different from previous ones • most colonists farmers not soldiers, & came in family groups. • Clearly intended to be a permanent settlement, self-sustaining and self-reproducing. • John White = Governor, returned to England for more supplies, leaving daughter and grand-daughter, Virginia Dare, at Roanoke. • Unable to return until 1590 due to Spanish Armada, since all ships diverted to defence of realm. • When finally arrives, found settlement abandoned, colonists never seen again. • Most likely attacked by Indians, survivors absorbed into tribes.

15. Importance of Roanoke • 3 voyages saw evolution of colonising thought • Roanoke seen as • A base for privateering, • Then a place where valuable raw materials could be shipped to England, • Third voyage aimed to settle permanently.

16. The lessons of Roanoke were clear: • no colony could exist without full support from mother country for at least the first few years of existence; • clear goals were needed • good relations with the Indians were necessary • Put this together and what was needed was • Order • Order would give control and allow for a structure

17. Although beginning of cracks in strict hierarchy • Still a rigid concept • Heading to the unknown there was a need to reinforce it

18. Two examples of understanding of English order • All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful:The Lord God made them all. • Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,He made their tiny wings. • The rich man in his castle, • The poor man at his gate, • He made them, high or lowly, • And ordered their estate.

19. Into this stepsJohn Smith • Born 1580 in England • left home at age 16 after his father died • Began travels France fighting for Dutch independence from Spain. • Two years later, Mediterranean Sea, working on a merchant ship • 1600 joined Austrian forces to fight the Turks • promoted to Captain while fighting in Hungary

20. This is the moment were Smith fights and defeats • 3 Turkish champions

21. Transylvania 1602 • wounded in battle, captured, and sold as a slave to a Turk. • Turk sent Smith as a gift to his sweetheart in Istanbul • Girl fell in love with him • sent him to brother to get training for Turkish imperial service.

22. Escaped by murdering the brother • Returned to Transylvania through Russia and Poland • Released from service • Received large reward • Traveled Europe and Northern Africa • Returned to England in the winter of 1604-05.