settlements in North America

European Settlement of North America

  • Discussion begins with the European settlement of North America pre-1607:

    • Numerous European powers attempted to establish colonies: British, Spanish, Dutch, French.

    • The British colonies will be the focus due to their prevalence and the subsequent struggle for independence from Britain.

Reasons for Establishing British Colonies

  1. Religion:

    • Religious persecution drove individuals to the colonies.

    • Noteworthy that religions persecuted often became intolerant themselves once they settled (e.g., Puritans in New England).

  2. Domestic Population Movement:

    • English citizens moved due to various dissatisfaction, including social or economic reasons.

    • Example: crowded cities like London or Liverpool with unemployment issues prompted migration.

  3. Empire and Power:

    • Monarchs sought to expand their empires and display power through colonies.

  4. Economic Reasons:

    • The drive for monetary gain was paramount, with colonies existing to enrich the mother country.

    • The colonies were seen as a means to increase the royal treasury.

Early British Colonies

Virginia Company and Jamestown

  • Founding of the Virginia Company:

    • Established in 1606 by King James I specifically to create settlements in North America.

    • Investors could buy shares in the company, expecting profits from colonial ventures.

  • Jamestown Colony Establishment:

    • 144 individuals sailed in December 1606 and arrived at the James River in April 1607, with only 105 surviving the journey.

    • Reason for inland settlement: Protection from Spanish vessels in Florida.

    • Initial settlers lacked survival skills, leading to a high mortality rate labeled "starving time":

      • Only 38 of the original 105 survived by 1608 due to inability to acclimate and absence of necessary skills.

  • Impact of Learning and Community Support:

    • Help from local natives contributed to eventual survival and growth of the colony.

    • By 1624, population grew to 1,100.

Early Challenges and Growth in Colonies

  • Stories emerged from Jamestown’s harsh conditions, including alleged cannibalism as last resort during starvation periods.

  • Plymouth Colony:

    • Established by a group from the Virginia Company in 1620, mainly known as the Pilgrims.

    • Initially landed at Provincetown before establishing in Plymouth.

    • Ultimately merged with other colonies and didn’t thrive as significantly.

Massachusetts Bay Company

  • Formation in 1629:

    • Established by Charles I to create a new colony with similar goals to the Virginia Company.

    • Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1630.

  • Charter and Governance:

    • Massachusetts Bay colonists took their governing charter with them, allowing them to adapt governance more effectively.

    • Contrast with Plymouth and Jamestown, which had to defer to the Virginia Company for governance changes.

The Great Migration

  • Period from 1630 to 1640:

    • Between 40,000 and 50,000 English migrants headed to North America.

    • Resulted in establishing many new towns in Massachusetts, including Boston, Salem, and Dorchester.

Economic Motivations of Settlers

  • Early settlers viewed the environment through a commodity lens:

    • Furs (beaver, fox), timber, fish (key resources).

    • European settlers perceived opportunities for profit through these resources.

  • Difference in Perspectives:

    • Europeans viewed nature as resources for exploitation, contrasting with natives’ understanding of the land.

    • Many natives significantly perished due to introduced European diseases (population drop from 70,000 to about 10,000 in New England).

Planned Communities in Colonies

  • Examples of planned colonies included Philadelphia (established by William Penn) and Savannah (by James Oglethorpe).

  • Initial colonies often lacked planning; however, later towns were intentionally designed for layout and infrastructure.

Shift Toward Georgia Colonial Focus

  • Discussion of Georgia as a colony following initial settlements:

    • Georgia was initially considered the "debatable land" with unsuccessful claims by Spain and France until the English successfully established a colony.

  • James Oglethorpe and the Establishment of Georgia:

    • Oglethorpe sought to create a colony for philanthropic reasons and to relieve overcrowded prisons.

    • Request for the colony sent to the king in 1730, granted in 1732, with the king expecting profitability.

Trusteeship (1732-1753)

  • The 21 trustees were given authority to govern but faced limitations:

    • No compensation for their work.

    • No land ownership allowed for trustees.

  • Early ban on slavery, strong drinks, Catholics, and lawyers proved challenging and gradually eliminated.

  • Initial vision held for Georgia was as a potential silk producer due to favorable conditions, but this ultimately did not manifest.

Founding of Georgia Colony

  • In late 1732, Oglethorpe arrived with around 125 settlers.

    • Opted to settle near Savannah River after evaluating multiple locations.

    • The location was essential for defense and transportation, balancing fresh water access with proximity to the Atlantic.