American Colonial Period: Settling America

Native Americans Relations with European Settlers: - varied from place to place – sometimes coexisting and sometimes in conflict - varied from place to place – sometimes coexisting and sometimes in conflict - Differing cultural values led to problems - Differing cultural values led to problemsTrade: - Europeans initially depended on trade with Native peoples for survival - Some native tribes, such as the Iroquois, came to dominate areas of trade with the Europeans Alliances: -various alliances between native people and European powers existed, failed, and became created again and again over time - Iroquois alliances helped them dominate the fur trade in the northeast - The Powhatan Confederacy influenced the initial survival of the Jamestown Colony

Africans Free Blacks: Free Blacks: early Africans were considered “indentured servants” – freed when their contract ended early Africans were considered “indentured servants” – freed when their contract ended Enslaved Blacks: Enslaved Blacks: - Large plantation farms in the south required many workers - Africans were brought to work on these farms as enslaved workers - smaller farms and a more diverse economy required less slaves in the northern colonies

The Europeans ► Came for religious, political and economic reasons ► Many different cultures were represented in the colonies ► The English culture dominated

► New England  Massachusetts  New Hampshire  Rhode Island  Connecticut ► Middle Colonies  New York  Pennsylvania  New Jersey  Delaware  Maryland ► Southern Colonies  Virginia  North Carolina  South Carolina  Georgia

LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES

Common Characteristics of Colonial Government ► Parliament and the King – ultimately ruled the colonies & had veto power over colonial laws ► Colonial Charters outlined basic relationship that existed between colony & the crown  Royal Colonies ► Under direct authority & rule of the king’s gov’t.  Proprietary Colonies ► Under authority of individuals granted ownership by king  Corporate or Charter Colonies ► Operated by joint-stock companies

Colonial Legislatures made laws for the day to day operation of the colony  2 houses (except in Pennsylvania) ► Upper House – appointed by governor ► Lower House – elected by the people; had “power of the purse” (Controlled the $ !!!)

Upper House Lower House (Governor’s Council) (Legislative Assemblies) - appointed by Governor - “power of the purse” with King’s consent ($) VOTERS Colonial Legislatures (2 houses) (law making bodies) Upper House Lower House (Governor’s Council) (Legislative Assemblies) - appointed by Governor - “power of the purse” with King’s consent ($) VOTERS (Adult, free, white males who owned property)

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ► MERCANTILISM  Colonies exist to benefit Mother Country  No colonial manufacturing  Colonies are source of cheap raw materials  England exports more expensive manufactured goods  Favorable balance of trade (value of exports greater than value of imports)  England controlled currency (“hard” currency – gold & silver, and “soft” currency – paper)

Navigation Acts (1650 – 1673) ► Established rules for colonial trade  Trade to & from colonies carried only by English or colonial built ships, operated only by English or colonial crews  All goods imported into the colonies must pass through ports in England  “Enumerated” goods from colonies must be exported to England only (ex. – tobacco)  BUT...  SALUTARY NEGELECT: until late 1763, England did not enforce many of Navigation Acts...colonial trade benefited both England and colonies... prosperity for both!!!

Triangular Trade: A 3 part trade route

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY  New England – limited farming – subsistence level, logging, shipbuilding, fishing, trading  Middle – agricultural “breadbasket”- corn & wheat; use of indentured servants; trading centers – NY & Philadelphia  Southern – large plantations – cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo); slaves used due to labor shortage; some small subsistence level farms in the back country

RELIGION IN THE COLONIES ► Predominantly Protestant sects (Anglican/Church of England and Congregationalists) ► Some Catholics in Maryland – most tolerant Maryland Act of Toleration – 1649 – All Christians welcomed in colony ► Some Jewish settlers in NY and Boston ► Several colonies had “established” or “official” religions

The Great Awakening (1730’s – 1740’s) ► Religious revival that spread throughout the colonies ► First shared common experience as Americans!!!! ► religious diversity ↑ religious toleration ↑ ► Belief that if people could make their own religious decisions, maybe they could make their own decisions ► Belief that if people could make their own religious decisions, maybe they could make their own political decisions

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS of 13 Colonies ► English culture – language & traditions ► Self-government with representative assemblies ► Religious toleration → varying degrees of religious freedom (Massachusetts – least tolerant; Rhode Island and Pennsylvania – most liberal) ► No hereditary aristocracy ► Social mobility – opportunity to improve their standard of living and social status by hard work (Puritan work ethic)