U.S. History: 1600-1860

“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

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

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

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

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 Penn est Pennsylvania as Quaker colony

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

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

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

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