Conflicts in Colonial America

Conflicts in Colonial America

Conflict was common in British Colonial America. Who was in conflict with each other? Whites vs. Native Americans Ex. King Philip’s War, Pequot War Western settlers versus colonial governments Ex. Bacon’s Rebellion, The Regulators Rich versus poor Ex. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys Whites versus blacksEx. Stono Rebellion Ethnic group versus ethnic group Ex. Threats against Irish immigrants in Boston, Leisler’s Rebellion Religious Conflict Ex. Maryland Civil War

Whites versus Native Americans Colonists and Indians were almost constantly at war! Why? It was all about land, who had it and who wanted it.

Whites versus Native Americans With the exception of Squanto, white/native relationships were almost always poor: -The English settlers, unlike the French trappers, refused to mingle with the natives. They preferred the colonial model used in Ireland: suppress the native “beasts” and create a model English community -Turmoil in New England focused on the expansion of Mass. And Conn. and Indian nations were quickly subdued due to existing problems with disease from early contact -In New York, the English settlers allied with the Iroquois nations for trading and fought against the Algonquins who were allied with the French.

Whites versus Native Americans -Settler/Indian relationships were the worst in the south: whites had a rabid desire for land for their plantations and they met large and strong Indian nations inland. Trouble from the start: Roanoke and Jamestown -Sir Richard Grenville’s first major act at Roanoke was to destroy at native village in retaliation for a minor theft

Whites versus Native Americans One of the worst conflicts was the Pequot War An English drawing of a Pequot village surrounded by whites and allied Indians in 1636 600 villagers were massacred.

Whites versus Native Americans Pequot War: The Puritans believed that the Natives were godless creatures meant to be destroyed. The Bible was used as justification of the war. Of course land in western Connecticut was a factor as well. Puritans attacked after a white trader was killed.Indians were massacred in their villages, by sword and fire: “Those that scaped the fire were slaine with the sword, some hewed to peeces, others frying in the fyre, and the stenches of blood quenching the same….”

Whites versus Native Americans King Philip’s War: the last gasp in New England Wampanoag’s villages in Massachusetts threatened important colonial land Who attacked first? The Indians almost succeeded, came within 20 miles of Boston. The colonists won, Metacom lost his head. But both sides lost many people and resources fighting the war. Metacom of the Wampanoags

Western Settlers versus Colonial Governments As colonies grew, settlers went west, inland. What conflicts did they have with the colonial governments? Protection from Natives Representation in colonial government Payment of debts See Bacon’s Rebellion as an example

Rich versus Poor What was the basis for the conflict between the poor and the rich? The availability of land for small farms Unfair rents, leases, and loans Government policies made by the colonial rich and no voting or representation Judges who supported the large land owners

Rich versus Poor Many of the poor in the early days of the colonies were white indentured servants who served harsh terms of labor for four to seven years to pay off their passage. They experienced slave-like conditions: -legally through prohibitive laws -practically through abuse and punishment -many died before their contract was up.

Rich versus Poor Indentured Servants Trip to America and food/clothing were paid for by master Were owned as personal property by master for 4 to 7 years Frequently whipped, raped, beat, sold Rebellion most often came in running away

Rich versus Poor The poor also included apprentices and working men and they occasionally bonded together to oppose policies: -In Boston, they opposed Naval impressment by beating up the sheriff and locking up the judge -They were described as a “riotous tumultuous assembly of foreign seamen, servants, negroes, and other persons of mean and vile condition”

Rich versus Poor The Carolinian Regulators 1760-70 Poor, white farmers, tenants, and squatters in western Carolinas who opposed the colonial policies of rich landholders.

Rich versus Poor The Carolinian Regulators Called themselves “poor industrious peasants, labourers, the wretched poor, oppressed by rich and powerful… monsters.” Denounced those officials whose “highest study is the promotion of their wealth.” Regulators broke up government meetings, prevented collection of taxes, rioted at court houses, strung up colonial officials and battled with militias. The Regulators were true backcountry heroes to many of the poor, vigilantes who helped the people versus the rich governments.

Whites versus Blacks What problems existed between blacks and whites? Blacks were slaves, owned by whites! Nothing else mattered, blacks didn’t have any freedoms so they couldn’t possess anything else, not even their dignity.

Whites versus Blacks Conflict between whites and blacks occurred every day. Slaves were beaten, raped, abused and worked hard every day. Psychologically, they were oppressed constantly, treated as property instead of as humans Slaves longed to be free, attempted escape, sabotaged work Slaves were in a constant state of war against their white owners no matter how well they were treated.

Whites versus Blacks The Stono Rebellion 1739 Jemmy organized over 100 slaves in South Carolina to revolt. They raided a storage of guns and went on a rampage killing a number of whites in the Stono region. They were soon caught and killed by white militia. Jemmy remains a hero among blacks. The Stono Rebellion inspired a number of other revolts in the South.

Ethnic Group versus Ethnic Group Why would different ethnic groups be in conflict with each other? Control of land and colonial government Availability of certain jobs Intolerance and misunderstanding about different ways of life.

Ethnic Group versus Ethnic Group Besides the English, what other immigrant groups were coming to America? Germans Scots-Irish Scandinavians: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish Dutch

Ethnic Group versus Ethnic Group Ethnic Conflict: The English and the Dutch battled it out for New York in the 1660’s The English condemned the arrival of “5 or 6000 ignorant, mean, worthless beggarly Irish , the scum of the earth, the refuse of mankind who delight in a low, lazy, sluttish, heathenish, hellish life. The Germans supposedly had a good work ethic and higher sexual morality but were still restricted in many colonies.

Religious Conflict Why did different religions come into conflict in the colonies? Arguments over religious practices Quakers, Shakers etc. Jealousy over numbers of followers Conflict about the tolerance of “alternative” ways of practicing within the faith. Puritans and Anne Hutchinson State-sponsored religions: Catholics vs Protestants in Maryland In many places, Jews, Quakers and Catholics simply weren’t allowed

Religious Conflict Conflict during the Great Awakening Many colonials left established churches like the English Anglican church and joined fringe churches like the Baptists. Conservatives such as the Puritans denounced these new churches as frauds and banished members. Presbyterians in Carolina backcountry let loose a pack of dogs in an Anglican service The Baptists tried to clean up the hard drinking southern gentry. Catholics were depicted as corrupt and the Pope as the devil in Protestant parades

Was colonial America a unified, peaceful set of colonies? NO! Conflict was everywhere: On the Southern Plantations On the western farming frontier In the colonial governments In the New England villages Among church goers and all ethnic groups

Examples of Regional Conflicts during the 17th Century • Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia (1676) • Leisler’s Rebellion in New York (1689) • The Salem Witch Trials in Plymouth (1692)

Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia Bacon opposed the 70 year old governor Sir William Berkeley who granted favors and land to his aristocratic plantation friends. Nathaniel Bacon was a rich, 27 year old planter in western Virginia. He was elected to Virginia’s colonial government: The House of Burgesses

Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia Berkeley didn’t include Bacon in his favors and dismissed him from the governor’s council Bacon wanted the government to help protect his land from the Indian tribes in western Virginia but Berkeley wouldn’t do it, instead he tried to limit western expansion and his own responsibility. So, Bacon decided to attack the friendly Pamunkey Indians on his own. He built an army of poor farmers and landless freemen and went on several raids, attacking a number of villages.

Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia Berkeley raised his own army and the two armies raided each men’s plantations. Finally, Bacon’s army attacked Jamestown itself and burned it to the ground. After angering many tribes in the west and almost taking control of Virginia, Bacon’s Rebellion was stopped when he died from dysentery in 1676.

Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia Significance for life in the plantation colonies: -Illustrated the struggle between whites and Indians on the frontier as new plantation land was sought inland. -Revealed the bitterness between eastern tidewater plantation elite and new western planters -Showed the social instability of Virginia as most of Bacon’s Rebellion was enacted by former indentured servants, an unstable and landless mass acting against the landed gentry. Result? The gentry increasingly brought in a new population of laborers: slaves

Leisler’s Rebellion in New York Ethnic Conflict: Leisler’s Rebellion, 1689 In response to news of the Glorious Revolution, the New York militia overthrew the unpopular English colonial governor. A rich German merchant supporting W&M, Jacob Leisler, replaced him and was supported by the poor Dutch in New York. When the new English royal governor showed up, Leisler refused to step down.

Leisler’s Rebellion in New York Ethnic Conflict: Leisler’s Rebellion, 1689 Leisler was a hero to some, a non-English villain to others He challenged the Dominion of New England, the royal gov., and the local trading hierarchy. The English opposed him and charged him with treason. He was hung, quartered and dragged through the streets. New York has had ethnic and political conflict ever since.

Leisler’s Rebellion in New York Significance for life in the middle colonies: Shows the extent of ethnic conflict in New York Dutch, English, NYer’s all desired a share of the local merchant economy built on trade with England Illustrates an urban conflict between various groups who want power. Shows the difficulty of politics within the English dominated royal colonies. Dependence or a certain amount of independence from England? Leisler a hero for the Am. Rev?

Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts A New England conflict: 1692 -Part of a larger witchcraft phenomenon in Europe and America -Started when a group of girls and a slave woman named Tituba were found playing with magic and voodoo -Accusations of witchcraft were made against hundreds of people as hysteria spread -Religious “trials” occurred where people were accused using “spectral” evidence

Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts -How was it a conflict? 19 were eventually put to death and the village of Salem was torn apart before more rational heads prevailed amongst the town religious and government leaders Miles Standish’ last words, as he was being crushed to death by rocks, were “More weight please.”

Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts Significant of life in the New England colonies: -May have been connected to Mass’ new charter under W&M -Reflected deep, strict, and supernatural religious beliefs of right and wrong -Illustrated importance of social conformity and roles of women -Accusers generally came from outlying farming regions shut out of town power politics -Accused belonged to new merchant class with access to trade, or commercial activity along road. -Showed importance of church politics, fear of outsiders and power of belief in New England life.

THE END!!!

Conflicts in Colonial America