Colonial Character/Dissent

Chesapeake (Southern Colonies) Jamestown 1607 Founded by Virginia Company of London Expedition led by Capt. John Smith Rocky beginnings Built in a swamp (malaria) Food shortages Conflicts with local Indians Founded with sole intent of making money Gold (not there) Greed of early settlers—”no work no eat policy” Nearly goes under Savior: tobacco

Chesapeake (Southern Colonies) The nature of tobacco Requirements: Fertile soil (abundant) Large acreage plantations (abundant) Large labor supply (scarce) New population demographics Indentured servants “Headright” system Slave labor “Triangular trade” “Middle Passage”

Based on the previous slide, how are conditions on “the middle passage” depicted?

Chesapeake (Southern Colonies) Religious affiliation: Anglican (loosely) Colonial governments (similar throughout colonies) Legislatures First colonial legislature: House of Burgesses (VA) Popularly elected representatives Relatively small electorate (property qualifications) Governors Often appointed by the King Often at the mercy of legislatures “power of the purse” “Benign Neglect”: English lawmakers/nobility chose to ignore colonial affairs during early years of colonies

Why would England choose not to govern their colonies more closely?

Plymouth/Massachusetts Bay Plymouth 1620 Founded by the Separatist Puritans (Pilgrims) Lead by William Bradford Sign Mayflower Compact (Constitution like document) Massachusetts Bay 1630 Founded by Puritans (not separatists!!) Lead by John Winthrop Founded as a religious refuge/model (City Upon A Hill) Economics of colony were secondary to religion Demographically different than Chesapeake Migrated as families Planned on a long term settlement Early emphasis on religion

Plymouth/Massachusetts Bay Puritans Established small town based around a central church Extreme ties between church and local government Town meetings took place in churches Only church members could vote Church members had documented religious experiences All town residents paid taxes (collected by the church) Local ministers/wealthy families held primary power Led to dissent Importance placed on education 1647 Massachusetts passes first public education law in America Requires a schoolhouse/teacher in towns with 50+ people

Massachusetts Bay (New England) Economy Hard rocky soil prevented large scale farming Subsistence farming of diverse crops Trading/Fishing/Manufacture rapidly become dominant industries Abundance of raw materials Natural harbors Proximity to England New England begins to compete economically with England Navigation Acts ( ) New Englanders in particular refused to obey Dominion of New England ( )

Massachusetts Bay (New England) Rapid Population Growth Longer life expectancy than Chesapeake Balanced demographics Thriving economy Loss of Puritan spirit in New England Half Way Covenant (1662) First Great Awakening ( ) Attempt to revitalize Puritan congregations Lead figure: Jonathan Edwards Successes: Expansion of religious sects/churches/church members Birth of American colleges (seminaries)

Middle Colonies Established by a diverse group of people Trace to early Dutch/Scandinavian settlers Diverse residents (> ½ Dutch in New Netherlands) Dutch were tolerant of other religious groups Primarily fur traders Unusual relationship with Native Americans Colonies acquired by England Most of the land given by Charles II to his brother James II (Duke of York) Attracts a number of wealthy British settlers Mix with established residents

Middle Colonies Pennsylvania Settled as a refuge for Quakers Persecuted and despised religious group in England Proprietor William Penn is given land by Charles II Diverse economy Diverse population Advertised to foreign settlers Religiously tolerant

Colonial Conflicts/Dissent Native American problems British refused to live alongside Native American population British saw Indians as savages Few attempts even to spread religion Leads to a series of wars Powhatan Wars (Virg.) Pequot War (Mass.) King Philip’s War (Mass.)

Colonial Conflicts/Dissent Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) Virginia was suffering from reduced tobacco prices and a shortage of available land Touched off a conflict with Indians threatening Gov. Berkley’s lucrative fur trade Allows Nathaniel Bacon proposed to lead an army to wipe out Indians Bacon slaughters peaceful band of Indians Berkley calls Bacon back Bacon refuses Bacon leads his troops against Jamestown Reveals deep social tensions between classes Unintended consequence: increases slave trade

Why would Bacon’s rebellion increase reliance on African slaves?

Colonial Conflicts/Dissent Early Puritan Dissent Roger Williams Strongly opposed tight bond between church and state Lead a group of followers to Rhode Island Anne Hutchinson Opposed Calvinistic view of predestination Believed individual could achieve salvation through direct contact with God Beliefs threatened power of the church Each was successful in fragmenting early Puritan church Early colonial society was marked by class conflicts

Big Question How do the differences in colonial regions guarantee the development of sectionalism?