The Founding of the English Colonies

Founding of Connecticut Connecticut – founded by Governor John Haynes and Thomas Hooker, a prominent Puritan minister of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Led 100 people to present-day Hartford in 1636. Hooker delivered a sermon on the principles of government in 1638 Influenced those who wrote Connecticut’s constitution, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Founding of Rhode Island Rhode Island founded in 1636 by religious dissident Roger Williams Williams banished by Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious views Granted land by Narragansett tribe. Called the site "Providence Plantation" and declared it a place of religious freedom. Critics at the time sometimes referred to it as "Rogue's Island" Cotton Mather of the Massachusetts Bay Colony called it "the sewer of New England." Soon joined by Anne Hutchinson, who was also banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony Officially named the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Founding of New Hampshire First settled by Europeans at Odiorne's Point in Rye (near Portsmouth) by a group of fishermen in 1623 Settlers built a fort, manor house and other buildings, some for fish processing, on Flake Hill. The colony of New Hampshire itself founded in 1629 on the division of a land grant

Founding of New York Originally a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam Founded by Peter Minuit in 1626 on Manhattan Island. After ten years of fighting over control, the Dutch surrendered the colony to the English in 1664 Renamed New York, after the Duke of York. Was always a significant trading center due to its lumber yard and state’s agriculture

Founding of Pennsylvania 1681 - Charles II of England grants Pennsylvania to William Penn to settle £16,000 (today worth about 2 and ½ millions dollars) debt the king owed to Penn's father. Penn founds proprietary colony that provides a place of religious freedom for Quakers. Penn named the colony Pennsylvania after his family, Penn, and the Latin word for "woods," sylvania. 1682 - Penn comes to North America, and founds Philadelphia. Pennsylvania attracts many other ethnic and religious groups, many fleeing persecution and the religious wars.

Penn’s Plan for Philadelphia Penn’s Treaty with the Indians (famous painting by Edward Hicks)

Founding of New Jersey Dutch set up trading posts in northern New Jersey. Sweden settles southwestern part Holland takes control and begin to interfere with Britain’s trans-Atlantic trade British, using John Cabot’s claims, grant land that is now New Jersey to Duke of York (later James II ) Richard Nicolls takes over New Netherland s in 1664. British encounter little resistance, due to the unpopularity of the Dutch governor Nicolls became deputy-governor of New Netherlands and guarantees colonists' property rights, laws of inheritance, and the enjoyment of religious freedom. New Netherland s west of the Hudson River renamed New Jersey after the English Channel Island of Jersey

Founding of Delaware Dutch, under Peter Minuit first settled area In any case, Minuit recalled from New Netherlands, and offers his services to Sweden, then a major power in European politics. Leads group under the flag of Sweden to the Delaware River in 1638 and establishes trading post near what is now Wilmington. Dutch take over and, in turn, ousted by James II in 1664. New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland claim Delaware land Legal battle not settled until just before American Revolution

Founding of Maryland George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, applied to Charles I for royal charter. 1632 - After his death, king grants charter for "Maryland Colony" to his son, Cecilius Calvert in 1632. Younger brother leads expedition & lands on St. Clements’s Island in 1634. Founds town of St. Mary’s One of few Roman Catholic regions in North America. Also destination for English convicts 1649 -The Maryland Toleration Act one of the first laws that explicitly defined tolerance of all Christian sects

Founding of North Carolina First English attempt at colonization – Roanoke Island in 1584 – Lost Colony Difficult to colonize: dangerous coastline, lack of ports, and few navigable inland rivers. Area refuge for lawbreakers, runaway servants and fur trappers. 1689 - Carolina proprietors separate Carolina Province. Deputy-governor for north and east of Cape Fear. In 1710, province officially divided into north and south First North Carolina governor: Edward Hyde. 1729 - North Carolina crown colony 1738 - smallpox epidemic killed off half of Cherokee Slavery prevalent Swiss and German settlers found New Bern and grows as German immigrants migrate south from Pennsylvania. Founding of North Carolina

In England, people in prison for not paying debts In England, people in prison for not paying debts. James Oglethorpe wants to give these men a chance for a new life Receives grant to create colony between what is now the Savannah and Altamaha rivers Colony named in George II’s honor. Besides asylum for debtors, protects northern colonies from Spain and France In 1733, 40 families found the Georgia colony. The Yamacraw Bluff allowed the people to defend the colony. Every task in colony was done as a group. Oglethorpe wanted society where every head of household worked on his own land without slaves The Georgia colony had rough start. Residents blamed problems on antislavery policy. Disgusted, Oglethorpe quits colony in 1743. 1752 –Georgia becomes royal colony; Georgia soon becomes known for its plantations and slavery. Founding of Georgia

Founding of South Carolina 1663 – Charles II grants land to 8 proprietors – Colony of Carolina Newly created province intended to serve as an English bulwark against Spain 1719 -1729 – King buys back land from proprietors. Becomes royal colony. South Carolinians become major importers of slaves to raise rice, indigo & tobacco. As result Gullah culture & creole language common Conflict between wealthy slave-owners and up-country Scotch-Irish settlers over taxes Carolina splits into North & South Carolina in 1712 Founding of South Carolina