The American Colonies
May 13, 1607: Arrival of 104 Male Settlers Jamestown, VA May 13, 1607: Arrival of 104 Male Settlers
WHY? For what reasons did individuals come to America?
Colonizing America Wealth
Colonizing America Religious dissent
Types of Colonies Royal Colonies King Ruled by royal governor
Types of Colonies Proprietary Individuals or groups King gifted land
Types of Colonies Charter Established by charters King Colonies governed themselves
Regional Divisions
New England Colonies
Massachusetts (1620) Pilgrims (Plymouth) Separatists 1st Thanksgiving wanted to separate from the Anglican Church 1st Thanksgiving Mayflower Compact 41 men drew up the agreement to outline fair and equal laws for the colony; signed on the Mayflower 1620
Massachusetts (1630) Puritans John Winthrop Purify and reform Anglican Church Massachusetts Bay Colony Strict religious beliefs; radical John Winthrop “for wee must Consider that wee shall be as a Citty upon a Hill, the eies of all people are uppon us; soe that if wee shall deale falsely with our god in this worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdrawe his present help from us” City Upon A Hill, 1630
New Hampshire (1630) John Mason English and Scots-Irish settlers Economic freedom Settled for religious freedom Escape for those constricted by harsh religious and economic rules of the Puritans Royal Colony
Rhode Island (1636) Connecticut (1636) Roger Williams Exiled by Puritans in Mass. settled in Providence Religious freedom Trade Connecticut (1636) Thomas Hooker Dutch (economic freedom) and English (religious freedom) Asked to leave by Mass. Agriculture and trade
Middle Colonies
New York (1626) New Jersey (1660) Delaware (1638) Peter Minuit Dutch (Netherlands), taken over by English Trade and profits Anglican Proprietary to royal colony New Jersey (1660) Lord Berkley Established by Sweden became English Agriculture, trade and profits Delaware (1638) Dutch, Swedish and English Farming, trade and profits Proprietary
Pennsylvania (1682) Quakers William Penn Proprietary Home to many European Immigrants: Swedish, Dutch, English, Scots-Irish and German Farming Quakers Equality and all possessed “Inner Light” Pennsylvania
Southern Colonies
Virginia (1607) Jamestown 1st permanent settlement mostly males (indentured servants and treasure hunters) 60/900 colonists survived Ruled by John Smith Founded by the Virginia Company Joint-stock company: organized to raise money by selling stocks/shares to investors Becomes royal House of Burgesses (1619)-22 representatives called burgesses met to outline laws for the colony
Maryland (1634) George Calvert Religious freedom for Catholics Established for trade, finding precious metals and to locate a water passage across the continent Farming Proprietary
Maryland Act of Toleration 1649 Granted freedom of worship for all Catholics Symbolic beginning of freedom of religion
North Carolina (1653) South Carolina (1670) Georgia (1733) Group of proprietors: business venture Settlers from Virginia Farming, trade and profit Anglican South Carolina (1670) Group of proprietors Settlers from France, English, Africans and Irish Food crops Proprietary to royal Georgia (1733) General James Oglethorpe Spanish settlements taken by English Debtors and convicts protect colonies from Spanish and French invasions Slow economic growth farmed, harvested lumber and traded furs
The Charter of Carolina 1663
Ethnic and Religious Diversity
Discrimination in Massachusetts Salem Witch Trials
Discrimination in Massachusetts Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams Banished from Massachusetts
Discrimination African Americans Native Americans Free Slaves Pushed off land by westward settlers
Religious Tolerance Roger Williams Providence, RI Pennsylvania English Quakers German Lutherans Scotch-Irish Presbyterians Swiss Mennonites New York linguistic and cultural diversity First synagogue
Colonial Economy
Economic Diversity: -South= Agriculture -North = Commerce -Towns and cities develop along water
Economy Mercantilism Economic policy Europe Way to get rich Export more than you import Effect= Britain creates rules for colonial trade
Commerce and Immigrants (New England) Port cities Boston Immigrant population increases due to religious freedom and economic opportunities (German, Scotch-Irish, Dutch) More towns in North than Southern colonies Use town meetings to govern
New England Colonies Shipbuilding Fishing Smaller farms self-sufficient
Middle Colonies’ Economy Diverse in people and business Less slaves Shops, homes and farms
Middle Colonies’ Economy Farming Wheat, barley, rye Commerce Access to water Shipping overseas New York and Philadelphia
Southern Economy John Rolfe and tobacco Plantations develop Virginia, Maryland, NC Plantations develop Need for labor Indentured servants Agree to work for landowner 4-7 years slavery
Southern Plantation Systems Exported cash crops to make money Creates: (1) Large farms around rivers (2) Need for lots of labor (3) Wealthy class of plantation owners
Slave Trade First slaves were captured Native Americans African slave trade flourished by 1700s Slaves endured a harsh voyage: Middle Passage Widespread use in Southern colonies
Colonial Society Ethnic Diversity -African Americans -Native Americans Class Distinctions Women Wealth = power
Bacon’s Rebellion Virginia, 1676 Cause: Nathaniel Bacon Failed! Small farmers treated unfairly; wealthy landowners paid fewer taxes and received many benefits Nathaniel Bacon Failed! Result: Need for representation in government for the “common man”
Colonial Government Britain allows the colonies to govern themselves Salutary neglect Colonial legislatures hold the power
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies Ancient Greece (800-510 BC) Greeks practiced democracy People vote directly Romans created a republic (500 BC) Representative democracy
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies Middle Ages (400-1500 AD) Republics fade Autocracies develop Government ruled by a single sovereign Renaissance (1450 AD) “Rebirth” Reconnection to ancient Greece and Rome Classical republicanism
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies Post Middle Ages Limited government Government that must obey a set of laws Usually a written document Magna Carta or “Great Charter” (1215 AD) Prevented king from imposing taxes Needed approval of a council British Parliament English Bill of Rights (1689 AD) Power to Parliament King could not interfere with Parliamentary elections or impose taxes Common Law Originated in Middle Ages Law based on tradition or past court decisions instead of written statutes
The English Government Magna Carta (The Great Charter) Guaranteed rights and liberties to the English people that could not be cancelled by later laws Common Law-evolved from the Magna Carta; unwritten laws based on customs, usage and precedents
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies Enlightenment (1600s) Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) All people are born with certain rights Protect one’s own life lead to chaos Strong government is needed Abuses by government = price of maintaining peace and order
The Second Treatise of Civil Government 1. What is Locke’s argument? 2. What evidence does he give to support it? 3. Do you agree or disagree with his point about preserving mankind? Why?
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies John Locke (1632-1704) Two Treatises on Government (1690) Natural rights: life, liberty, property Can’t morally be taken away by government Social contract theory Implied contract between government and citizens People submit themselves to follow the law for the common good and to cultivate civic virtue Government fails= replace government
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies Montesquieu (1689-1755) Separation of powers Three branches of government Checks and balances Voltaire (1694- 1778) Free speech, freedom of expression and freedom of religion Jean Jacque Rousseau (1712- 1778) equality
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies American Colonies House of Burgesses (1619) First elected body in New World Citizens should have a voice Created laws for the colony of Jamestown Mayflower Compact (1620) Document drafted by settlers Created an elected legislature Government received power from the people of the colony Demonstrates desire to be ruled by local government instead of England
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies Town meetings Representative government Local citizens met to discuss and vote on issues Belief in democratic ideals Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) Written body of laws for the colony Government’s power came only from the “free consent of the people” Set limits on what government could do
1.2 Self-Government and the Colonies First Continental Congress (1774) Gathering of colonial leaders Respond to laws passed by Parliament “not represented in Parliament” and violations of “natural rights” Second Continental Congress (1775) Meeting of colonial leaders Response to the Kings failure to act throw off British rule