Many Cultures Meet Chapter 1 Section 1

Focus Question: What were the causes and effects of European arrival in the Americas?

The American Indians Arrived in the Americas between 40,000 and 15,000 years ago Land bridge across Bering Strait Diverse groups, some common traits Clans: extended family groups with a common ancestor Similar religious beliefs Agriculture, hunting, gathering, and fishing

The Europeans The Renaissance changes Europe Scientific advances and wealth → exploration Nations compete for trade routes Age of Exploration to voyage of discovery Portugal takes the lead

The West Africans Portuguese reach West African kingdoms Greatly expand slave trade Colonial plantations create demand for slaves Middle Passage: voyage from Africa to the Americas used to transport slaves

First Encounters Christopher Columbus Conquistadores Sailed for Spain Landed in Caribbean Conquistadores Spanish invaders Expanded Spanish empire Columbian Exchange Triangular Trade

European Colonies in the Americas Jamestown 1607: first successful English settlement Joint-stock company: investors that share profits and losses Business investment Charter: certificate of permission from the king House of Burgess: elected legislature that governed the colony

New England Colonies Puritans: fled from religious persecution Mayflower Compact: framework for self-government Supplemented farming with ship building Boston: major port

New England Colonies cont’d Puritans made their own clothes Grew their own food Corn and wheat were plentiful Excess was shipped to England

The Middle Colonies Motivation: mixture of religious freedom and money Economy: part agricultural, part industrial Farms grew wheat and other grains Factories produced iron and textiles Trade with England was plentiful

The Southern Colonies Motivation: money Economy: almost entirely agricultural Plantations: large farms (several acres) Staple crops: tobacco, rice, cotton Cash Crops: crops grown for money not food Education: Girls: educated in the fine arts Boys: educated in the sciences

Southern Need for Labor Indentured Servants: people who worked under contract (usually 7 years) in exchange for transportation, food, shelter Enslaving Native Americans Southern colonies became key participants in the Triangular Trade → slave labor

Men in Colonial America White colonists had it better Ate better Lived longer Had more children to help with the work Boys became apprentices Apprentice: work under another person in exchange for learning a trade Colleges reserved for the wealthy

Women in Colonial America Girls not allowed to go to school Women juggled a variety of tasks Cooking, gardening, washing, cleaning, weaving/sewing Supported each other in childbirth No political equity Could not hold public office, vote, or be on a jury Could not own land in their name

England’s Colonial Policies Perfect trading partnership for England Colonies supplied England with raw materials Colonies bought large supply of English goods English policies based on 3 things: Salutary Neglect: gave colonies economic freedom Balance of trade: export v. import Mercantilism: emphasis on profit