The Southern Colonies US History

1619, an important year… House of Burgesses First African slaves First representative government in British North America Governed in conjunction with the colonial governor and his council First African slaves 20 Africans brought by Dutch Remained unpopular in VA and South until late 1600s (why?) First English women

Bacon’s Rebellion

Bacon’s Rebellion, 1676 Western farmers Problems with Natives in western VA Not adequately represented in the House of Burgesses Bacon & other farmers attacked Williamsburg 1st colonial rebellion against government

Nathaniel Bacon Gov. William Berkeley

Maryland Land given as Catholic haven Maryland Act of Toleration (1649) Said all Christians (Catholics & Protestants) had religious freedom Is this really free?

The Carolinas Carolina: 1670 Goals: economic opportunity through agriculture NC - Split off in 1712 Haven for poor whites and religious dissenters from Carolina and VA Most democratic, independent, least aristocratic of all colonies (similar to Rhode Island) Exception – Amerindians (treated ruthlessly, sold into slavery)

Georgia Last British American colony Founded by John Oglethorpe (1733) 2 purposes Buffer State Haven for British prisoners/debtors

Colonial Slavery West Africa Originally captured by African coastal tribes who traded them to European and American buyers. About 40% of slaves captured by Africans in interior died en route to coast. About 50 million Africans died or became slaves during 17th & 18th century

Slave Trade Of  about 10-15 million Africans sent into slavery in New World, 400,000 (2%) came to North America. Between 20% to 1/3 of slaves died during the “Middle Passage” Clip from the Amistad Horrific conditions: Slaves often chained by neck and extremities to deck floor Packed into spaces about the size of a coffin; lay in own excrement In some cases, next deck only 18” above deck floor; slaves could not turn over; lay on their back the entire voyage. Survivors  eventually sold at auction blocks at ports like Newport, RI, or Charleston, SC (giant slave market)

17th C. Virginia Population Some came to Jamestown as early as 1619 but only 2,000 in Virginia in 1670 Accounted for about 7% of southern plantation population in mid-17th century Rising wages in England in 1680's reduced immigration to America. By 1680's, black slaves outnumbered white servants Largest populations in Virginia & South Carolina

Slave Codes As Africans grew in numbers, threatened whites passed laws to severely control the slave population. Most common codes stated: blacks and their children were property for life of white masters. it was a crime to teach literacy to slaves. conversion to Christianity was not grounds for freedom.

Review: The American South Tobacco and rice were biggest cash crops Slow to have cities, churches, and schools due to isolation of plantations and farms Mostly supported the Church of England (Anglican) Had continued conflicts with Native Americans Slavery became the root of racism in America as a distinct color line was drawn - The notion of inferiority based on skin color embedded in U.S. law until 1960s!