Unit 1

Reasons for European Migrations to the Americas in the 17 c

The French in North America The Fur Trade Champlain founded the first successful French colony in North America, at Quebec, in The French in New France discovered that fur could be sold in Europe for great profit. Native Americans trapped the animals, then traded the fur to the French. The Iroquois The French presence in North America led to an increase in warfare among Native Americans. The fur trade caused different Indian groups to fight over hunting territory. One group, the Iroquois, who were based in present-day New York State, were very successful at both war and trade. The Iroquois pushed rival Native American tribes out of their homelands, forcing them to migrate west of the Great Lakes.

Early English Colonization: Roanoke There were several reasons why England decided it should establish a colony in the Americas: Privateers wanted a base in the Americas from which they could attack Spanish ships and cities. They wanted to have supply stations set up in North America for trading ships when the Northwest Passage was finally found. English merchants wanted new markets. The Americas would be a good place to send those who could not find housing or work in England. Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to start a colony on Roanoke Island, along the coast of present-day North Carolina, in It failed. A second attempt, made two years later, ended mysteriously.

Jamestown Jamestown, Virginia became the 1 st successful English colony in A joint-stock company (a company funded and run by a group of investors who share the company’s profits and losses) called the Virginia Company sponsored the colony and hoped to make money off of the products and raw materials there. Many settlers came to Jamestown hoping to get rich and obtain land. But the colony nearly failed due to: conflict with Native Americans unrealistic expectations of settlers not used to doing hard work poor location—near a swamp with disease-carrying mosquitoes starvation poor leadership

Jamestown Fort & Settlement Map

Jamestown Housing

High Mortality Rates The “Starving Time”: 1607: 104 colonists By spring, 1608: 38 survived 1609: 300 more immigrants By spring, 1610: 60 survived 1610 – 1624: 10,000 immigrants 1624 population: 1,200 Adult life expectancy: 40 years Death of children before age 5: 80%

Tobacco Saves? John Rolfe saved the colony when Native Americans showed him how to grow tobacco. The crop was a cash cow. In order to attract more settlers to the colony to help grow tobacco, VA developed the headright system. This system granted 50 acres of land to those who would settle in the colony. The population exploded! But would the success of Jamestown have been possible without the Native Americans?

Tobacco Plant Virginia’s gold and silver. -- John Rolfe, 1612

Tobacco Prices: Why did tobacco prices decline so precipitously?

Indentured Servitude Headright System Indentured Contract, 1746

Conflict with Native Americans English Pattern of Conquest The English pattern of conquest grew out of their experiences in taking over Ireland. Because they met with such resistance in Ireland, they developed a harsh attitude toward conquered people. They believed it best to remake any culture they conquered. Native Americans React In 1622, Native Americans led by Chief Powhatan attacked Jamestown, intending to wipe out the English. The attempt failed, but 350 colonists (more than 25 percent of the population) and at least as many Native Americans were killed. Native Americans tried again in This attempt also failed.

Powhatan Powhatan probably saw the English as allies in his struggles to control other Indian tribes in the region.Powhatan probably saw the English as allies in his struggles to control other Indian tribes in the region. The Jamestown settlers would lively have starved if the Native Americans had not given them food and showed them how to grow crops. But what thanks did Powhatan get?The Jamestown settlers would lively have starved if the Native Americans had not given them food and showed them how to grow crops. But what thanks did Powhatan get?

Smith’s Portrayal of Native Americans

Virginia’s Social Structure Wealthy landowners Poor farmers Indentured servants Slaves

Indentured Servants Tobacco created the need for cheap labor. 1 st indentured servants, then slaves. Indentured servants were people who could not afford to come to the colonies on their own. They agreed to work for a landowner for up to 7 years in exchange for the landowner paying for their trip. Once their 7 years was up, they became small landowners.

Indentured Servitude Headright System:  Each Virginian got 50 acres for each person whose passage they paid. Indenture Contract:  5-7 years.  Promised “freedom dues” [land, £]  Forbidden to marry.  : only 1 in 10 outlived their indentured contracts!

Bacon’s Rebellion As more indentured servants became free landowners, land became less available. So settlement pushed further west. Thus, poor farmers in western VA had more conflicts with Native Americans. They got fed up with the governor of Jamestown who they thought favored the rich and was not doing enough to help western Virginias protect their land. In 1676, this led a conflict called Bacon’s Rebellion.

Led 1,000 Virginians in a rebellion against Governor Berkeley  Rebels resented Berkeley’s close relations with Indians.  Berkeley monopolized the fur trade with the Indians in the area.  Berkley refused to retaliate for Indian attacks on frontier settlements. Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion: 1676 Nathaniel Bacon Governor William Berkeley

Rebels attacked Indians, whether they were friendly or not to whites. Governor Berkeley driven from Jamestown. They burned the capital.  Rebels went on a rampage of plundering. Bacon suddenly died of fever. Berkeley brutally crushed the rebellion and hanged 20 rebels. Bacon’s Rebellion

His uprising showed that colonists expected a government that served more than just the wealthy few. They wanted a govt where ordinary citizens had a voice. Upper class planters searched for laborers less likely to rebel  African SLAVES!!Upper class planters searched for laborers less likely to rebel  African SLAVES!! Results of Bacon’s Rebellion

Slavery in VA Slavery was a system in which people were “owned” like property. It became more essential to the colony’s economy after diseases wiped out Native Americans and indentured servitude decreased. The 1 st African American slaves arrived in Jamestown in Most VA slaves worked on tobacco plantations. Slavery established the plantation economy in the southern colonies. Plantations were huge farms owned by wealthy landowners who raised staple crops (crops that are in large demand and provide the bulk of a region’s income).

The Atlantic Slave Trade

Goods Traded with Africa

The “Middle Passage”

Virginia’s Govt Due to the colonies’ distance from England, the British adopted a policy of salutary neglect. In the early colonial period, England basically let the colonists govern themselves. The colonies established representative govts. While colonial governors appointed by the king were technically in charge, colonial legislatures formed by local residents had most of the power. In 1619, VA established the colonies’ 1 st elected legislative body: the House of Burgesses. The Burgesses were selected directly by the people. The House of Burgesses laid the foundation for the ideas about representative government that would later influence the shape of American government.

Virginia House of Burgesses

Assessment Which of the following best describes Jamestown? –It was the 1 st English colony in North America. –The colony thrived most before tobacco was discovered. –Colonists normally lived in peace with Native Americans. –Slavery became less important after Bacon’s Rebellion.

Assessment What were plantations and how did they help make slavery an important part of colonial culture?

Colonial Mosaic 1: New England Colonies 2: Middle Colonies 3: Southern (Chesapeake) Colonies

Colonial Mosaic What colonies were in this region? Reason for settlement. What type of colonies were they? (i.e. royal colony, proprietary, charter colonies). Culture & religion Economic activities

Sources Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY: powerpointpalooza.netMs. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY: powerpointpalooza.net Pathways to the PresentPathways to the Present Passing the Georgia U.S. History EOCTPassing the Georgia U.S. History EOCT