Unit OneUnit One

Lecture NotesLecture Notes

Initial Settlement of the AmericasInitial Settlement of the Americas

First settlers came from Asian First settlers came from Asian continent about 25,000 B.C.continent about 25,000 B.C.

By late fifteenth century, 4 million By late fifteenth century, 4 million Native Americans lived in North Native Americans lived in North America and 20 million lived in America and 20 million lived in Mexico.Mexico.

Most groups in Most groups in North America North America were were hunter-gatherers.hunter-gatherers.

Sophisticated societies Sophisticated societies found in found in Central and Central and South America.South America.

European ExplorationEuropean Exploration

Reasons for European interest Reasons for European interest in the Americasin the Americas• Limited economic opportunities in Limited economic opportunities in EuropeEurope

• Shipbuilding expertiseShipbuilding expertise• Crusades increased interest in Crusades increased interest in luxury goodsluxury goods

• Competition among European Competition among European monarchs for wealth and powermonarchs for wealth and power

Clash of CulturesClash of Cultures Spanish exploration brought together Spanish exploration brought together people from three distinct societies – people from three distinct societies – Europe, Native American and African.Europe, Native American and African.

Hernando Cortes and Francisco Pizarro had Hernando Cortes and Francisco Pizarro had both religious (spread Christianity) and both religious (spread Christianity) and economic motives for exploration.economic motives for exploration.

In 1521 Cortes defeated Aztecs at In 1521 Cortes defeated Aztecs at TenochtitlTenochtitlán with guns and disease án with guns and disease (smallpox).(smallpox).

Effects: Shiploads of gold sent to Spain; large Effects: Shiploads of gold sent to Spain; large Spanish empire created in Americas; Native Spanish empire created in Americas; Native population devastated by disease; horse introduced population devastated by disease; horse introduced and altered Native life;plants, animals and and altered Native life;plants, animals and diseases from New World introduced to Europe.diseases from New World introduced to Europe.

The French in CanadaThe French in Canada 16081608 – First permanent French – First permanent French settlement in North America – settlement in North America – QuebecQuebec

French -religious motives for French -religious motives for colonization BUT developed colonization BUT developed alliancesalliances with Huron and other Native tribes.with Huron and other Native tribes.

French were French were trappers and fur traderstrappers and fur traders..

Effects: Disease wiped out 30% Effects: Disease wiped out 30% tribes; tribal wars over fur trade; tribes; tribal wars over fur trade; Jesuits converted many Natives to Jesuits converted many Natives to Christianity; French not as coercive Christianity; French not as coercive as Spanishas Spanish

The Dutch in North AmericaThe Dutch in North America

1609 Henry Hudson established 1609 Henry Hudson established trading settlements on trading settlements on Manhattan.Manhattan.

Successful fur traders.Successful fur traders. Bloody aggression against Bloody aggression against Native Americans limited Dutch Native Americans limited Dutch economic success.economic success.

The English in the AmericasThe English in the Americas

Factors that encouraged settlement - Factors that encouraged settlement - population growth, decline in wages, population growth, decline in wages, homelessness, landlessness, homelessness, landlessness, overpopulated cities.overpopulated cities.

15881588 – – defeat of Spanish Armada defeat of Spanish Armada ensured British naval dominance in ensured British naval dominance in North AtlanticNorth Atlantic

Puritans disenchanted with Church of Puritans disenchanted with Church of England and Pilgrims (Separatists) England and Pilgrims (Separatists) opposed to it.opposed to it.

JamestownJamestown First permanent English settlement in North First permanent English settlement in North

America – 1607America – 1607 King James granted a charter to Virginia Company King James granted a charter to Virginia Company

of London of London (joint-stock company)(joint-stock company) Founded for Founded for economic gaineconomic gain.. Severe food shortage and conflict with Powhattan Severe food shortage and conflict with Powhattan

Indians placed major strains on colony. John Indians placed major strains on colony. John Smith instituted “No work, no food” rule that Smith instituted “No work, no food” rule that helped save colony.helped save colony.

John Rolfe’s marriage to Pocahontas also John Rolfe’s marriage to Pocahontas also prevented further conflict.prevented further conflict.

Rolfe’s main contribution - cultivation of Rolfe’s main contribution - cultivation of tobacco – became main source of income for colonytobacco – became main source of income for colony

Indentured servants Indentured servants became major source of laborbecame major source of labor 1619 – first African slaves, first women and 1619 – first African slaves, first women and

first representative government (House of first representative government (House of Burgesses)Burgesses)

Maryland and the CarolinasMaryland and the Carolinas 1640 – English kings created 1640 – English kings created proprietary colonies proprietary colonies

given to individuals or groupsgiven to individuals or groups Maryland settled as haven for Catholics – Maryland settled as haven for Catholics – Act of Act of

Toleration (1649)Toleration (1649) North Carolina developed distinctive traits-North Carolina developed distinctive traits-

independent-minded and least aristocratic –strong independent-minded and least aristocratic –strong resistance to authority.resistance to authority.

South Carolina relied on slavery almost from its South Carolina relied on slavery almost from its inceptioninception..

20 million Africans brought to New World in 1720 million Africans brought to New World in 17thth and 18and 18thth centuries. centuries.

Slavery crucial to plantation economy.Slavery crucial to plantation economy. By late 1600s, southern colonies had laws By late 1600s, southern colonies had laws

governing institution of slavery – black codesgoverning institution of slavery – black codes

GeorgiaGeorgia

Last of British colonies in Last of British colonies in North America.North America.

Settled to form buffer against Settled to form buffer against Spanish and French.Spanish and French.

Only colony to receive subsidies Only colony to receive subsidies from British government.from British government.

Also served as a haven for Also served as a haven for debtors.debtors.

Plantation Colonies – Similar Plantation Colonies – Similar CharacteristicsCharacteristics

All exported commercial agricultural All exported commercial agricultural products, especially tobacco and rice.products, especially tobacco and rice.

Slavery found in all plantation Slavery found in all plantation colonies.colonies.

Limited growth of towns and cities.Limited growth of towns and cities. Few churches and schools.Few churches and schools. Some religious toleration.Some religious toleration. Tax-supported Church of England was Tax-supported Church of England was dominant religion.dominant religion.

Soil depletion drove settlers westward.Soil depletion drove settlers westward.

Plymouth RockPlymouth Rock

Religious freedom primary Religious freedom primary factor in colonization of New factor in colonization of New EnglandEngland..

William Bradford led “pilgrims” William Bradford led “pilgrims” on mission to spread gospel.on mission to spread gospel.

Plymouth (1620) – Plymouth (1620) – formed “civil formed “civil body politic” and signed body politic” and signed Mayflower Compact, a document Mayflower Compact, a document that established majority rule.that established majority rule.

Massachusetts Bay ColonyMassachusetts Bay Colony

Established in 1629 by Puritans Established in 1629 by Puritans – place where will of God would – place where will of God would be manifested.be manifested.

Based on Calvinist view of Based on Calvinist view of man’s relation to God.man’s relation to God.

Half of settlers fled bad Half of settlers fled bad economic times in England; half economic times in England; half came for religious freedom.came for religious freedom.

John Winthrop’s VisionJohn Winthrop’s Vision

First governor of Massachusetts Bay First governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.Colony.

““City upon a hill” – God, church and City upon a hill” – God, church and community and politics all community and politics all emphasized.emphasized.

Governed by Governed by “General Court”- elected “General Court”- elected by Puritan males in good standing.by Puritan males in good standing.

Families settled in Massachusetts – Families settled in Massachusetts – life expectancy longer here than in life expectancy longer here than in the Chesapeake colonies.the Chesapeake colonies.

Effects of Religious DissentEffects of Religious Dissent

Dissent not tolerated in Dissent not tolerated in Massachusetts colony.Massachusetts colony.

Four new colonies created as a Four new colonies created as a result of this.result of this.

Roger Williams preached total Roger Williams preached total separation of church and state. separation of church and state. Left Massachusetts and settled in Left Massachusetts and settled in Rhode Island.Rhode Island.

Anne Hutchinson claimed to have Anne Hutchinson claimed to have special revelations from God and was special revelations from God and was asked to leave the colony.asked to leave the colony.

New NetherlandsNew Netherlands

Dutch East India Company settled New Dutch East India Company settled New York and Hudson River valley.York and Hudson River valley.

New Amsterdam – company town run by New Amsterdam – company town run by Dutch West India Company for quick Dutch West India Company for quick profit in fur trade.profit in fur trade.

No religious toleration or free No religious toleration or free speech.speech.

Aristocratic atmosphereAristocratic atmosphere 1664 – conquered by British and 1664 – conquered by British and renamed New York.renamed New York.

Penn’s Holy ExperimentPenn’s Holy Experiment William Penn attracted to Quaker faith in William Penn attracted to Quaker faith in 1660.1660.

Penn secured large land grant from King as Penn secured large land grant from King as payment for debt he owed to Penn’s father.payment for debt he owed to Penn’s father.

Best advertised colony – all welcome, Best advertised colony – all welcome, liberal land policies attracted immigrants.liberal land policies attracted immigrants.

Penn purchased land from Native Americans.Penn purchased land from Native Americans. Proprietary colony governed by Proprietary colony governed by representative assembly elected by representative assembly elected by landowners.landowners.

Religious freedom – no established churchesReligious freedom – no established churches Jews and Catholics prohibited from voting or Jews and Catholics prohibited from voting or holding public office.holding public office.

The Middle Colonies – Common The Middle Colonies – Common CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Broad, fertile landBroad, fertile land Expansive rivers stimulated Expansive rivers stimulated farming and commerce.farming and commerce.

Small farmsSmall farms Ethnically mixedEthnically mixed

Seventeenth Century Seventeenth Century Chesapeake ColoniesChesapeake Colonies

Harsh living conditions Harsh living conditions Ratio of men to women was 6:1Ratio of men to women was 6:1 Weak family structureWeak family structure One-crop economy in Maryland and One-crop economy in Maryland and Virginia - relied on tobacco Virginia - relied on tobacco

Head-right system enabled planters to Head-right system enabled planters to acquire large tracts of landacquire large tracts of land

Frustrated former indentured servants Frustrated former indentured servants involved in Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)involved in Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

Result of Rebellion was use of slave Result of Rebellion was use of slave labor instead of indentured servantslabor instead of indentured servants

Colonial Slavery Colonial Slavery

Slave imports significant in Slave imports significant in Caribbean and South American coloniesCaribbean and South American colonies

Middle passage used to describe Middle passage used to describe horrific journey from west coast of horrific journey from west coast of Africa to AmericasAfrica to Americas

Slavery most prevalent in southern Slavery most prevalent in southern colonies but practiced throughout colonies but practiced throughout colonial Americacolonial America

1712 - Slave revolt in New York City 1712 - Slave revolt in New York City 1739 - Stono River Rebellion in South 1739 - Stono River Rebellion in South Carolina Carolina

Southern SocietySouthern Society

Stratified societyStratified society FFVs - small group of wealthy FFVs - small group of wealthy planters who provided much of planters who provided much of the colonial leadershipthe colonial leadership

Limited number of towns and Limited number of towns and cities, schools and churchescities, schools and churches

Transportation systems poorTransportation systems poor

New England SocietyNew England Society

Ten-years added to life expectancyTen-years added to life expectancy Close-knit and stable family structureClose-knit and stable family structure Towns with 50+ families required to Towns with 50+ families required to provide elementary education - Mass. provide elementary education - Mass. School Law of 1647School Law of 1647

Town meetings - laboratory of Town meetings - laboratory of democracydemocracy

Half-way Covenant allowed for greater Half-way Covenant allowed for greater participation in church - women became participation in church - women became majority of congregationsmajority of congregations

Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

Revealed rapidly growing social Revealed rapidly growing social strains in New England between strains in New England between “haves” and “have nots”“haves” and “have nots”

Accused were mostly women who Accused were mostly women who were financially stable or were financially stable or independentindependent

Accusers came from poorer areas Accusers came from poorer areas of Salemof Salem

Colonial American Melting PotColonial American Melting Pot

Mix of ethnicity unlike Mix of ethnicity unlike anything in Europeanything in Europe

Population doubled every 25 Population doubled every 25 yearsyears

Beginning development of Beginning development of “American” identity“American” identity

Structure of Colonial SocietyStructure of Colonial Society

17th century America was one of 17th century America was one of openness and economic opportunityopenness and economic opportunity

By 1775 - social stratification By 1775 - social stratification evidentevident

Clergy - most respected positionClergy - most respected position Doctors and lawyers poorly regardedDoctors and lawyers poorly regarded Agrarian society - 90% ruralAgrarian society - 90% rural Manufacturing pursuits included Manufacturing pursuits included shipbuilding and lumberingshipbuilding and lumbering

New England major supplier of naval New England major supplier of naval storesstores

Religious DiversityReligious Diversity Established religions - Anglican and Established religions - Anglican and Congregational ChurchesCongregational Churches

PA and RI had no established churchesPA and RI had no established churches Great Awakening created divisions among Great Awakening created divisions among Christian sects - began by Jonathan Christian sects - began by Jonathan Edwards and popularized by George Edwards and popularized by George WhitefieldWhitefield

New institutions of higher learning New institutions of higher learning createdcreated

Sectional boundaries broken down - Sectional boundaries broken down - first spontaneous mass movement of first spontaneous mass movement of AmericansAmericans

Colonial PressColonial Press

Pamphlets and broadsides used Pamphlets and broadsides used to spread newsto spread news

1735 - Zenger case a landmark 1735 - Zenger case a landmark for freedom of the press in for freedom of the press in AmericaAmerica

Led way for public discourse in Led way for public discourse in colonial Americacolonial America

Colonial GovernmentsColonial Governments

Most colonies were royal (8)Most colonies were royal (8) Three were proprietaryThree were proprietary Two self-governingTwo self-governing All had two house legislatureAll had two house legislature Deferred to “betters”Deferred to “betters” White propertied males eligible White propertied males eligible to voteto vote