Unit One

1. Unit One Lecture Notes

2. Initial Settlement of the Americas • First settlers came from Asian continent about 25,000 B.C. • By late fifteenth century, 4 million Native Americans lived in North America and 20 million lived in Mexico. • Most groups in North America were hunter-gatherers. • Sophisticated societies found in Central and South America.

3. European Exploration • Reasons for European interest in the Americas • Limited economic opportunities in Europe • Shipbuilding expertise • Crusades increased interest in luxury goods • Competition among European monarchs for wealth and power

4. Clash of Cultures • Spanish exploration brought together people from three distinct societies – Europe, Native American and African. • Hernando Cortes and Francisco Pizarro had both religious (spread Christianity) and economic motives for exploration. • In 1521 Cortes defeated Aztecs at Tenochtitlán with guns and disease (smallpox). • Effects: Shiploads of gold sent to Spain; large Spanish empire created in Americas; Native population devastated by disease; horse introduced and altered Native life;plants, animals and diseases from New World introduced to Europe.

5. The French in Canada • 1608 – First permanent French settlement in North America – Quebec • French -religious motives for colonization BUT developed alliances with Huron and other Native tribes. • French were trappers and fur traders. • Effects: Disease wiped out 30% tribes; tribal wars over fur trade; Jesuits converted many Natives to Christianity; French not as coercive as Spanish

6. The Dutch in North America • 1609 Henry Hudson established trading settlements on Manhattan. • Successful fur traders. • Bloody aggression against Native Americans limited Dutch economic success.

7. The English in the Americas • Factors that encouraged settlement - population growth, decline in wages, homelessness, landlessness, overpopulated cities. • 1588 – defeat of Spanish Armada ensured British naval dominance in North Atlantic • Puritans disenchanted with Church of England and Pilgrims (Separatists) opposed to it.

8. Jamestown • First permanent English settlement in North America – 1607 • King James granted a charter to Virginia Company of London (joint-stock company) • Founded for economic gain. • Severe food shortage and conflict with Powhattan Indians placed major strains on colony. John Smith instituted “No work, no food” rule that helped save colony. • John Rolfe’s marriage to Pocahontas also prevented further conflict. • Rolfe’s main contribution - cultivation of tobacco – became main source of income for colony • Indentured servants became major source of labor • 1619 – first African slaves, first women and first representative government (House of Burgesses)

9. Maryland and the Carolinas • 1640 – English kings created proprietary colonies given to individuals or groups • Maryland settled as haven for Catholics – Act of Toleration (1649) • North Carolina developed distinctive traits-independent-minded and least aristocratic –strong resistance to authority. • South Carolina relied on slavery almost from its inception. • 20 million Africans brought to New World in 17th and 18th centuries. • Slavery crucial to plantation economy. • By late 1600s, southern colonies had laws governing institution of slavery – black codes

10. Georgia • Last of British colonies in North America. • Settled to form buffer against Spanish and French. • Only colony to receive subsidies from British government. • Also served as a haven for debtors.

11. Plantation Colonies – Similar Characteristics • All exported commercial agricultural products, especially tobacco and rice. • Slavery found in all plantation colonies. • Limited growth of towns and cities. • Few churches and schools. • Some religious toleration. • Tax-supported Church of England was dominant religion. • Soil depletion drove settlers westward.

12. Plymouth Rock • Religious freedom primary factor in colonization of New England. • William Bradford led “pilgrims” on mission to spread gospel. • Plymouth (1620) – formed “civil body politic” and signed Mayflower Compact, a document that established majority rule.

13. Massachusetts Bay Colony • Established in 1629 by Puritans – place where will of God would be manifested. • Based on Calvinist view of man’s relation to God. • Half of settlers fled bad economic times in England; half came for religious freedom.

14. John Winthrop’s Vision • First governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. • “City upon a hill” – God, church and community and politics all emphasized. • Governed by “General Court”- elected by Puritan males in good standing. • Families settled in Massachusetts – life expectancy longer here than in the Chesapeake colonies.

15. Effects of Religious Dissent • Dissent not tolerated in Massachusetts colony. • Four new colonies created as a result of this. • Roger Williams preached total separation of church and state. Left Massachusetts and settled in Rhode Island. • Anne Hutchinson claimed to have special revelations from God and was asked to leave the colony.

16. New Netherlands • Dutch East India Company settled New York and Hudson River valley. • New Amsterdam – company town run by Dutch West India Company for quick profit in fur trade. • No religious toleration or free speech. • Aristocratic atmosphere • 1664 – conquered by British and renamed New York.

17. Penn’s Holy Experiment • William Penn attracted to Quaker faith in 1660. • Penn secured large land grant from King as payment for debt he owed to Penn’s father. • Best advertised colony – all welcome, liberal land policies attracted immigrants. • Penn purchased land from Native Americans. • Proprietary colony governed by representative assembly elected by landowners. • Religious freedom – no established churches • Jews and Catholics prohibited from voting or holding public office.

18. The Middle Colonies – Common Characteristics • Broad, fertile land • Expansive rivers stimulated farming and commerce. • Small farms • Ethnically mixed

19. Seventeenth Century Chesapeake Colonies • Harsh living conditions • Ratio of men to women was 6:1 • Weak family structure • One-crop economy in Maryland and Virginia - relied on tobacco • Head-right system enabled planters to acquire large tracts of land • Frustrated former indentured servants involved in Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) • Result of Rebellion was use of slave labor instead of indentured servants

20. Colonial Slavery • Slave imports significant in Caribbean and South American colonies • Middle passage used to describe horrific journey from west coast of Africa to Americas • Slavery most prevalent in southern colonies but practiced throughout colonial America • 1712 - Slave revolt in New York City • 1739 - Stono River Rebellion in South Carolina

21. Southern Society • Stratified society • FFVs - small group of wealthy planters who provided much of the colonial leadership • Limited number of towns and cities, schools and churches • Transportation systems poor

22. New England Society • Ten-years added to life expectancy • Close-knit and stable family structure • Towns with 50+ families required to provide elementary education - Mass. School Law of 1647 • Town meetings - laboratory of democracy • Half-way Covenant allowed for greater participation in church - women became majority of congregations

23. Salem Witch Trials • Revealed rapidly growing social strains in New England between “haves” and “have nots” • Accused were mostly women who were financially stable or independent • Accusers came from poorer areas of Salem

24. Colonial American Melting Pot • Mix of ethnicity unlike anything in Europe • Population doubled every 25 years • Beginning development of “American” identity

25. Structure of Colonial Society • 17th century America was one of openness and economic opportunity • By 1775 - social stratification evident • Clergy - most respected position • Doctors and lawyers poorly regarded • Agrarian society - 90% rural • Manufacturing pursuits included shipbuilding and lumbering • New England major supplier of naval stores

26. Religious Diversity • Established religions - Anglican and Congregational Churches • PA and RI had no established churches • Great Awakening created divisions among Christian sects - began by Jonathan Edwards and popularized by George Whitefield • New institutions of higher learning created • Sectional boundaries broken down - first spontaneous mass movement of Americans

27. Colonial Press • Pamphlets and broadsides used to spread news • 1735 - Zenger case a landmark for freedom of the press in America • Led way for public discourse in colonial America

28. Colonial Governments • Most colonies were royal (8) • Three were proprietary • Two self-governing • All had two house legislature • Deferred to “betters” • White propertied males eligible to vote