Migration to Virginia

MIGRATION TO VIRGINIA

Role of England England weak, politically and

economically in comparison to Spain. Henry VII had sponsored John Cabot’s

voyages to Canada 1497, lost interest when NW passage not discovered.

Lack of political will, and military capacity to challenge Spain before later 16thC

But- dry run for colonial expansion in Ireland

Ireland Ireland conquered by Normans, but gradually

England lost control. Tudors show renewed interest. Major military expeditions during Elizabethan

period, led by soldiers & adventurers. Followed up by colonizers, especially those seeking large land holdings, use

of Gaelic Irish as serfs, frequent atrocities and brutality towards Irish

seen as Catholic, barbaric, sub-humans. About 200,000 migrants from GB to Ireland

1600-1670, twice number who went to America

Ireland as a blueprint Financed by Joint Stock Companies, same

as would finance American colonies Use of promotional literature to

popularize colonization Attitudes towards native peoples similar Many of the individuals involved in Irish

colonization later involved in American colonization

e.g. Richard Grenville, Humphrey Gilbert, Walter Raleigh.

English Imperial Ambitions

Motivation: envy of Spanish treasure from America; wealth helped Spain become most powerful nation;

English policy to break the Iberian monopoly on America due to fear that American wealth, after Henry VIII's split with Rome (1534), could be used against them.

English government sanctioned privateering operations against Spanish. Capturing Spanish treasure ships bringing gold & silver from New World.

By 1580 increasingly dangerous to prey on Spanish shipping - suggestion that American base needed.

Idea that American colonies would also ease English reliance on southern Europe for citrus fruits, silks, and vines.

Importance of Propaganda, Richard Haklyut.

1st patent to settle in America granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, half brother to Walter Raleigh, permitted him to settle anywhere between Florida and Northern Canada

Early British Attempts Initially England

was not successful

Martin Frobsier Searching for gold

and a northwest passge

3 failed journeys between 1576-1578

Humphrey Gilbert Attempted to settle in

Newfoundland – failed, Gilbert dies at sea

John Hawkins and Francis Drake Successful in the

Caribbean But as pirates not settlers

But by 1580 England still had no permanent settlement in Americas

Roanoke Three English voyages to

settle North America in 1580s.

The first landed at Roanoke Island, North Carolina on July 13th, 1584,

short lived military expedition which found that the land was suitable for both cultivation and defence,

returned home to England with 2 local Indians, Manteo & Wanchese.

Roanoke Island

1585-6, 2nd English Voyage under Ralph Lane, discovered

Chesapeake Bay, ideal as naval base.

Noted for the oil paintings of John White and the descriptions of Thomas Hariot.

But, young male adventurers, with ambitions of land and wealth, not ideal colonists.

Indian relations deteriorated, food supply from Indians cut off

Drake arrived summer 1586, seeking re-supply, ends up providing food for colonists, eventually agrees to return them to England

The Lost Colony Third voyage 1587: very different from previous

ones most colonists farmers not soldiers, & came in

family groups. Clearly intended to be a permanent settlement,

self-sustaining and self-reproducing. John White = Governor, returned to England for

more supplies, leaving daughter and grand-daughter, Virginia Dare, at Roanoke.

Unable to return until 1590 due to Spanish Armada, since all ships diverted to defence of realm.

When finally arrives, found settlement abandoned, colonists never seen again.

Most likely attacked by Indians, survivors absorbed into tribes.

Importance of Roanoke 3 voyages saw evolution of

colonising thought Roanoke seen as A base for privateering, Then a place where valuable

raw materials could be shipped to England,

Third voyage aimed to settle permanently.

The lessons of Roanoke were clear: no colony could exist without full support

from mother country for at least the first few years of existence;

clear goals were needed good relations with the Indians were

necessary Put this together and what was needed

was Order Order would give control and allow for

a structure

Although beginning of cracks in strict hierarchy

Still a rigid concept Heading to the unknown there was a

need to reinforce it

Two examples of understanding of English order All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful:The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate, He made them, high or lowly, And ordered their estate.

Into this steps

John Smith Born 1580 in England left home at age 16 after

his father died Began travels France

fighting for Dutch independence from Spain.

Two years later, Mediterranean Sea, working on a merchant ship

1600 joined Austrian forces to fight the Turks

promoted to Captain while fighting in Hungary

This is the moment were Smith fights and defeats

3 Turkish champions

Transylvania 1602 wounded in battle, captured,

and sold as a slave to a Turk. Turk sent Smith as a gift to

his sweetheart in Istanbul Girl fell in love with him sent him to brother to get

training for Turkish imperial service.

Escaped by murdering the brother

Returned to Transylvania through Russia and Poland

Released from service Received large reward Traveled Europe and

Northern Africa Returned to England in the

winter of 1604-05.

After Roanoke 20 year wait for colonisation to restart Nothing possible until succession decided,

too much uncertainty James I (1603-25) ends war with Spain 1604.

Ends profits from privateering Leads to reconsideration of colonisation Importance of getting a charter, royal

sanction/support sets out claims, regardless of other powers

1606 charters given to Virginia Company of London and Virginia

Company of Plymouth to settle between 34 and 45 degrees N latitude, (NC to Maine)

Grant to

Virginia Co.

The Virginia Company Basically made up of merchants charter talks of trade and bringing

Christianity to natives. Needs colonists as

traders potential soldiers to defend against Spanish

Offers free land for settlers 144 young men to go on first

voyage on board 3 ships (Godspeed, Discovery and Susan Constant)

Arrives Jamestown May 1607

James Fort

Migrants Before 1618 all migrants: Male Most under 25 Free land offered

obvious draw to poor, as well as to younger sons of gentry,

i.e. those with little prospect of riches in England

Main motivation economic, seeking fortune and status many migrants see Virginia as

temporary home

Importance of indentured labour

Main source of labour in Virginia before 1680

People were ‘sold’ for number of years in return for passage.

Possibility of land at end of service.

Problems of flight seen as form of slavery,

Campbell / Galenson historical debate over social status

Were migrants ‘middling people’ or ‘common sort’ ?

Problem source materials mainly from 1650s incompleteness of data Probably reflected English

population mainly poor (farmers, labourers,

artisans), but not the truly destitute A few merchants, aristocrats, or

wealthy people

Suggestion religion had role in colonisation Mentioned in charter Used as recruitment

tactic But little attention paid

by colonists once there. Authority derived from

either tradition (elders), law (officials) or charisma (dictators)

First church built in 1639 32 years after arrival

Rebuilt in 1907 on original spot

A quick word about dates People often say America began with the

Pilgrim Fathers As you know James Town was founded in

1607 New England in 1620 Thirteen years earlier But did you also know…. The first Africans were taken to James Town

in 1619 This means African-Americans were settlers

in America before the Pilgrims

Problems of Authority Virginia has crisis of authority first two governors lose control quickly

can’t prevent a high death toll amongst early settlers

only 38 of 144 original migrants still alive in Nov 1607.

Solved by John Smith elected Gov in Dec 1608 introduced system of Martial Law moved colony inland learned survival techniques from Indians

reduced death rate.

Capt John

Smith

‘The Starving Time’ New fleet arrives June 1609, brings

900 new settlers. Smith ousted, and returns to

England No effective leadership during harsh

winter of 1609-10 lack of planning – no food stockpiled widespread starvation some cannibalism.

Spring 1610 only 60 survivors Decide to return to England Prevented by arrival of new

Governor Lord De La Warre Virginia on edge of extinction

Laws Divine, Moral and Martial De La Warre, formally introduces the

Laws DMM in 1611 similar to Smith’s martial law

Very strict, aims to control populace all to work collectively for survival of colony

Begins to deter potential colonists Widespread attachment to ‘rights of

Englishmen’ Response of Virginia Co House of Burgesses

First elected body in North America, July 1619 Again before Pilgrims

Virginia Co charter revoked 1624, becomes royal colony

Economic Development No economic purpose to

early settlement 1612 planting of

Trinidadian tobacco by John Rolfe.

Rapid growth of production 2,000 lbs in 1615 1.5m lbs 1629 Vast wealth possible high prices by 1620 meant

single farmer with no extra labour could make £200/yr profit.

Also cause of instability.

Tobacco Pipes

Indians Problems with Indians major factor in

Virginia development Powhatan confederacy more powerful

than English Numbers approx 10,000 in 1620

1000 English in 1624 Initial antagonism – disputes over

property Smith’s role – situation calms in 1610s Rolfe marries Pocahontas

Powhatan sees English as potential allies vs interior tribes.

Never imagines they would be threat to him Trades for weapons

etc Powhatan dies 1622 Succeeded by brother

Opechancanough more hostile to English especially

encroachment on lands Role of tobacco in

taking Indian lands English authorities

unable to prevent it

Decision to attack on Good Friday (March 22) 1622

Achieves total surprise

Kills 347 whites out of population of

1200. Opechancanough

thought English would leave

But attack cements negative image of Indians among English

makes their destruction easier to live with

Conclusions Virginia in 1624 in turmoil Politically unstable

e.g. Virginia Co loss of charter 1624 Endured disease, war, death. Only about 1000 whites in Virginia after

17yrs of colonisation settlement still in balance could easily still fail.

A LITTLE BACK TRACKING

Antonio Velazquez

Summer 1561 Spanish

Caravel buffeted by storms of South Carolina

After storm saw a huge bay

Bahia Santa Maria

Chesapeake Bay

Anchored and encountered Indians

Two agreed with return to Spain

Younger Indian Paquiquineo given to King Philip II renamed Don Luís de Velasco

A few months later asked to return home

The Journey of Don Luís de Velasco Went first to New Spain Became very ill end of first attempt to

return home After recovering decided to remain

and learn Catholic faith and Spanish ways

But still kept the desire to return home Several years later Pedro Menédez de

Avilés, new governor of “la Florida” was ordered to protect the southeast from the French

1566 - Don Luis heads out with Catholic friars on a missionary journey to his old home

For some reason ship couldn’t find bay

Captain against protests sailed back to Spain rather than Mexico

Don Luis fails in second attempt to return home

1570 manages to get to Cuba September 1570 arrives back in

Bahia Santa Maria Shortly thereafter Don Luis fled

from the Spanish February 1571 Don Luis leads

attack on, and destroys, Spanish settlement

We know this because one Spanish boy, Alonso, was left alive and eventually returned to the Spain

Why have I told this story?

1) Don Luis is an example of one of the many Native Americans who visited Europe

2) We may see Don Luis again under a different name.

Native

Virginia

The Rise of the Powhatans Central political

development of the late 16th /early 17th century within Virginia

Not arrival of English

Rise of the Powhatan chiefdom

Wahunsonacock ruled over thirty or so tribes

Region known as Tsenacommacala

Stretched from south of the James River to the Potomac

and from the coast to the falls

Tsenacommacah was well populated at the beginning of the seventeenth century.

15, 000– 20,0000 people, dispersed in several

hundred villages and hamlets

Rivers and coastal waters provided a superb means of travel

Commonly used for transporting men and goods over long distances

Powhatan settlements were small by European standards

consisting of fewer than a hundred people ‘”of kindred & alliance.”

An illustration of Secota (Secotan, near the Pamlico River in North Carolina)

Powhatan society organized for war response to the threat posed by powerful

enemies to the north and west War was the ultimate test for every male

a searching examination where only the strong, intelligent, or lucky would survive.

Men were expected to display strength and courage in hand-to-hand

combat fortitude if captured and tortured wisdom in council.

English soon learned of Powhatan power

At time of English arrival A native nation who lived at the

entrance to the bayThe Chesapeakes

Resisted absorption into Tsenacommacah

Powhatan response – military attack Resulted in the slaughter of men,

women, and children.

As chiefdom grew So did wealth and

influence Territories governed

through regional or district chiefs some of whom were close

relatives Brothers

Opechancanough Opitchapam Kekataugh

maintained tight control over the Pamunkeys

Son Parahunt and Pochins

Ruled important districts of Powhatan and Kecoughran at the falls and mouth of

the James River

Controlled SpeculationThe Powhatans and Smith

Historian Frederich Gleach has looked at the capture of Smith

Using “Controlled Speculation” Offers a reinterpretation of the famous story of

Smiths capture And subsequent release due to the intervention

of Pocahontas Most famous incident in the history of Virginia Some doubt it happened and those who accept it explain it as an isolated event

a planned adoption unpremeditated rescue by an infatuated young

woman.

Gleach suggests it was part of a larger ritual

Began with the act of capturing Captain John Smith in December 1607

Captured by a large party, of 200 to 300 bowmen, led by the Powhatan war-chief Opechancanough.

His capture was more than incidental Immediately taken before

Opechancanough, whose duties as war-chief would include dealing with outsiders

His life was threatened the first of three times this would

happen during his captivity Then taken to the seasonal

village of Rasawek and treated as a captive chief

Three dances took place centered on Smith and Opechancanough Kept there for close to a week

His life being threatened again while there

After this second threat the next phase of his captivity began

A physical transition from the margins of Tsenacommacah to its heart, the village of Powhatan A metaphysical transformation from English to

Anglo-Powhatan. Smith taken to a series of smaller,

peripheral villages returned to Rasawek Then taken to Menapacute, one of the

main villages of Pamunkey. It was while Smith was here that the

redefinition ritual took place creating a place for the English in the Powhatan

world.

Powhatans then returned Smith to the periphery of Tsenacommacah,

From this outside position he was brought to Werowocomoco, Powhatan's principal residence.

Smith's old life being ended, Pocahontas ceremonially spared him from death, allowing him to begin his new life as a Powhatan

Two days later the ritual was completed Giving Smith and the colony a specific

place in Tsenacommacah. Smith was returned to Jamestown, early

in 1608.

Opechancanough Powahtan’s

leading warrior Little known about

Opechancanough’s origins

A few intriguing references suggest that he may have been none other than

Paquiquineo (Don Luis)

Powhatan saw English as potential allies vs. interior tribes.

Never imagines they would be threat Trades for weapons

etc Powhatan dies 1622 Succeeded by brother

Opechancanough more hostile to English especially

encroachment on lands Role of tobacco in

taking Indian lands English authorities

unable to prevent it

Decision to attack on Good Friday (March 22) 1622

Achieves total surprise

Kills 347 whites out of population of

1200. Opechancanough

thought English would leave

But attack cements negative image of Indians among English

makes their destruction easier to live with