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Overview Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia First settlement = Jamestown 1607 Tobacco and rice became the cash crop. These crops grown on large plantations with slave labor. Religion = not a large concern House of Burgesses was first representative government in the New World.

VirginiaVirginia

Late 1606  Virginia Company sends out 3 ships May 24, 1607  about 100 colonists [all men] land at Jamestown, along banks of James River  Easily defended, but swarming with disease-causing mosquitoes England Settles Jamestown

Jamestown Settlement, 1609

Jamestown Fort & Settlement Map

Jamestown Housing

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Chapel, 1611

Settlers died by the dozens! Mosquitoes in the swampy area carried many diseases. “Gentlemen” colonists would not work themselves.  Game in forests & fish in river uncaught. Settlers wasted time looking for gold instead of hunting or farming. The Jamestown Nightmare

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%

Relations between Indians & settlers grew poor.  General mistrust because of different cultures & languages.  English raided Indian food supplies during the starving times. Culture Clash in the Chesapeake

John Rolfe What finally made the colony prosperous??

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

Tobacco’s effect on Virginia’s economy:  Vital role in putting Virginia on a firm economic footing.  Ruinous to soil when continuously planted.  Chained Virginia’s economy to a single crop. Tobacco promoted the use of the plantation system.  Need for cheap, abundant labor. Virginia: “Child of Tobacco”

Virginia House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses established in 1619 & began to assume the role of the House of Commons in England By the end of the 17 c, House of Burgesses was able to initiate legislation. House of Burgesses was the first representative government in the New World. Growing Political Power

James I grew hostile to Virginia  He hated tobacco.  He distrusted the House of Burgesses  he revoked the charter of the bankrupt Virginia Company.  Thus, Virginia became a royal colony, under the king’s direct control!  Think they liked that after making their own decisions? Virginia Becomes a Royal Colony

The Atlantic Slave Trade “Triangular Trade” The Atlantic Slave Trade “Triangular Trade” Sugar Rum Slaves

Beginning in 1662  “Slave Codes”  Made blacks [and their children] property, or chattel for life of white masters.  In some colonies, it was a crime to teach a slave to read or write. Colonial Slavery

MarylandMaryland

A royal charter was granted to George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, in A proprietary colony created in A healthier location than Jamestown. His plan was to govern as an absentee proprietor in a feudal relationship.  Huge tracts of land granted to his Catholic relatives. The Settlement of Maryland

St Mary’s City (1634)

Currency in Early Maryland

Baltimore permitted high degree of freedom of worship in order to prevent repeat of persecution of Catholics by Protestants.  High number of Protestants threatened because of overwhelming rights given to Catholics. Toleration Act of 1649  Supported by the Catholics in MD.  Guaranteed toleration to all CHRISTIANS.  Decreed death to those who denied the divinity of Jesus [like Jews, atheists, etc.].  In one way, it was less tolerant than before the law was passed!! A Haven for Catholics

The Carolinas

The West Indies  Way Station to Mainland America 1670  a group of small English farmers from the West Indies arrived in Carolina.  Had been squeezed out by sugar barons.  Brought a few black slaves and a model of the Barbados slave code with them. Named for King Charles II. The King granted Carolina to 8 supporters [Lord Proprietors].

Port of Charles Town, SC Also named for King Charles II of England. Became the busiest port in the South. City with aristocratic feel. Religious toleration attracted diverse inhabitants.

The primary export. Rice was still an exotic food in England.  Was grown in Africa, so planters imported West African slaves.  These slaves had a genetic trait that made them immune to malaria. By 1710  black slaves were a majority in Carolina. Crops of the Carolinas: Rice American Long Grain Rice

Crops of the Carolinas: Indigo In colonial times, the main use for indigo was as a dye for spun cotton threads that were woven into cloth for clothes. Today in the US, the main use for indigo is a dye for cotton work clothes & blue jeans.

The Emergence of North Carolina Distinctive traits of North Carolinians  Small farms rather than large plantations.  Irreligious & hospitable to pirates.  Strong spirit of resistance to authority  NC officially separated from SC.

Georgia

Georgia--The “ Buffer ” Colony Chief Purpose of Creating Georgia:  As a “buffer” between the valuable Carolinas & Spanish Florida & French Louisiana.  Received subsidies from British govt. to offset costs of defense.