Chapters 3 & 4 Chapter 3: The English Colonies in North America Chapter 4: Life in the Colonies

Chapter 3: The English Colonies in North America

Four Colonial Subcultures The different values of the migrants dictated the “personality” of the newly created colonies; led to distinct (not unified) colonies: The Chesapeake New England Middle Colonies The Lower South

Indentured Servants: Most indentured servants had to work for their masters for three to six years, but commitments varied according to the servants’ age and strength. One person from the time noted, “young people, from 10 to 15 years, must serve till they are 21 years old.”

Why did people come to the new colonies? Many colonists came to North America for the chance to own land and start a new life. Others were seeking freedom to practice their religion. There were also some who did not have a choice. A number of convicts (people in jail) were forced to go to North America to work off their debts as indentured servants. Millions of Africans were kidnapped from their homelands and brought to the colonies as slaves.

English settlers established colonies in North America for many reasons: - Some colonies were set up by groups of businesspeople who hoped to profit from resources found in the Americas (such as Jamestown). - Several colonies were settled by people looking for a place to practice their religion freely (such as Massachusetts). - One colony was established as a refuge for debtors (people who owe money), who would otherwise have been tossed into prison (such as Georgia).

The English government supported all these efforts in part because it was competing for land in the Americas with such nations as France and Spain. England had another reason for establishing colonies: it was also competing for wealth. Like most western European nations in the late 1600s, England followed an economic policy that is called mercantilism. - Under this policy, nations tried to gain wealth by controlling trade and establishing colonies. - The colonies made money for England by supplying raw materials for its industries. - England turned the raw materials into goods that it could sell to other nations and to its own colonies.

All the colonies were settled with the permission of the king of England. - For each colony, the king issued a charter, a formal document that outlined the colony’s geographic boundaries and specified how it would be governed. - Because the colonies were so far from England, however, they needed to be able to make their own laws and keep peace and order. - The colonies developed different forms of government, depending on the settlement’s purpose. - Most of the colonies were self-governing. Colonists elected members of their community to a general assembly, which made their laws. - Many colonies also had a governor appointed by the king. As the king’s representative, the governor could overrule the elected assembly.

The Anglican Church, Puritans, and the Separatists (“Pilgrims”): In the early 1600s, religion was very important in England. The king ruled the official Church of England, also called the Anglican Church. However, not everyone agreed with the church practices. One group, who came to be called Puritans, wanted to “purify” the Anglican Church by making services simpler and doing away with ranks of authority.

Another group, called Separatists, wanted to separate from the English church. - When the king began jailing Separatists for not attending Anglican services, some of them moved to Holland, where they could practice their religion freely. - But Holland wasn’t home, and the Separatists wanted their children to grow up in an English culture. - In 1620, about 102 Separatists set sail for America aboard the Mayflower.

Mayflower Compact: - an agreement that Pilgrims wrote and signed describing how they would govern themselves in the Americas

The Colonies: The Main Concepts

New England Colonies

Notice that all of the New England colonies were self-governing.

New England Colonies, 1650

Middle Colonies

The Middle Colonies, 1685

Southern Colonies

Settling the Lower South

Chapter 3 Summary: In this chapter, you read about the settlement of the 13 English colonies in the future United States. Settlers and Slaves Settlers had many reasons to come to America in the 1600s and 1700s. Two important reasons were freedom of religion and the chance to start a new life. However, even though colonists treasured freedom for themselves, they had Africans brought to America by force to work as slaves. Regional Development The New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies had distinctive geographies and natural resources. As a result, different ways of life developed in each region. Colonies also varied in their form of government, but all were democratic to some degree. New England Colonies Religion and geography were key influences in these colonies. Although Puritans sometimes disagreed, they hoped to establish model communities based on their religious faith. New England’s forests and coastline made lumbering, shipbuilding, and trade very important to the region’s economy. Middle Colonies These colonies were geographically, culturally, and religiously diverse. Catholics, Quakers, Anglicans, and members of other Protestant faiths all found homes in this region. Southern Colonies In these colonies, climate and geography encouraged the planting of cash crops and the development of large plantations. In time, slave labor would become a major part of this region’s economy.

Chapter 4: Life in the Colonies

Rights of Colonists Colonists in America saw themselves as English citizens. They expected the same rights that citizens enjoyed in England. The most important of these was the right to have a voice in their government. Magna Carta The English people had won the right to participate in their government only after a long struggle. A key victory in this struggle came in 1215, when King John agreed to sign Magna Carta, or “Great Charter.” This agreement established the idea that the power of the monarch, or ruler, was limited. Not even the king was above the law.

The next major victory was the founding of Parliament in 1265. - Parliament was made up of representatives from across England. Over time, it became a lawmaking body with the power to approve laws and taxes proposed by the king or queen.

In 1685, James, the Duke of York, became King James II. - The king did not want to share power with an elected assembly in New York or with an elected Parliament in England. - When he tried to rule without Parliament, James was forced off his throne. - This change in power, which took place without bloodshed, is known as the Glorious Revolution.

The Atlantic Slave Trade Most of the slaves who were brought to the colonies came from West Africa. Year after year, slave ships filled with cloth, guns, and rum sailed from the colonies to the coast of West Africa. There, these goods were traded for Africans. The ships then returned to the Americas carrying their human cargo. This part of the trip was called the “Middle Passage”.

Slavery in the Colonies Slavery in the colonies began in Virginia, with tobacco planters. From there, it spread both north and south. By the early 1700s, enslaved Africans were living in every colony. Most people in the New England and Middle Colonies, however, found that hiring workers when they were needed them cost less than owning slaves. In the Southern Colonies, however, slavery expanded rapidly. From Virginia to Georgia, slaves helped raise tobacco, rice, indigo, and other cash crops.

The Middle Passage

For the Africans packed onto slave ships, the ocean crossing—known as the Middle Passage — was a nightmare. One slave said he never forgot “the closeness of the place . . . which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself.” Nor did he forget “the shrieks of the women, and groans of the dying.” He refused to eat, hoping “for the last friend, Death, to relieve me.” Although he survived the voyage, many Africans died of sickness or despair. Even so, the Atlantic slave trade was very profitable. Many colonial merchants built fortunes trading in human beings.

The English Bill of Rights In 1689, Parliament offered the crown to Prince William of Orange and his wife, Mary. In exchange, they had to agree to an act, or law, known as the English Bill of Rights. - This act said that the power to make laws and impose taxes belonged to the people’s elected representatives in Parliament and to no one else. - It also included a bill, or list, of rights that belonged to the people. - Among these were the right to petition the king (request him to change something) and the right to trial by jury. - English colonists saw the Glorious Revolution as a victory not only for Parliament, but for their colonial assemblies as well. - They wanted to choose the people who made their laws and set their taxes. After all, this was a cherished right of all English citizens.

Chapter 4 Summary : In this chapter, you read about various aspects of life in the American colonies during the early 1700s. Farms and Cities The colonists developed an economy based on farming, commerce, and crafts. Farm families produced most of what they needed for themselves. In the villages and cities, many trades and crafts developed. Rights of Colonists American colonists expected to enjoy all the rights of English citizens, especially the right to have a voice in their own government. Colonial assemblies defined crimes and punishments. Punishments were often harsh, but for most of the 1700s, the colonists were content to be ruled by English laws. Life for African Americans Enslaved African Americans had almost no rights or even hope for liberty. After being brought to America in chains, they faced a life of forced obedience and toil. Religion Religion was very important to the colonists. The Great Awakening revived religious feeling and helped spread the idea that all people are equal. Education Most colonial children received little education, except in New England. Instead, they were expected to contribute to the work of the farm or home. Family and Leisure Most colonial families were large. They often included many relatives in addition to parents and their children. Much of colonial life was hard work, but colonists also found time to enjoy sports and games.

Conclusions By 1700: England’s attitude toward the colonies had changed dramatically Sectional differences within the colonies were profound All the colonies were all part of Great Britain but had little to do with each other