P2: Extended
English before the New World Empire
The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 which split Catholicism and Protestantism into two Christian sects. Inspired by this, Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1527 to create the Anglican Church aiming for control over church and state. One of his daughters, Elizabeth I, ruled from 1558 to 1603 and aimed to make England a powerful protestnt nation. She supported secret attacks for pirates known as the Sea Dogs. Francis Drake was a well-known Sea Dog known for his daring raids against Spanish ships. Along with his circumnavigation of the globe in 1577, he showcased England’s maritime prowess which fueled national pride. In 1588, England defeated the Spanish Armada, a crucial event that opened the Americas to colonization and increased trade across the Atlantic. After Elizabeth’s death, James I began the Stuart Dynasty and reigned until 1627.
English and the New World Empire
main takeaway: colonies exist to benefit the mother country
(1607) Jamestown, VA funded by VA Company located in Chesapeake Bay - first English Settlement
met hostile Powhatan people; pacified by friendship between John Smith and Pocahantes however
(1609) “Starving Time” where Jamestown nearly collapsed from lack of food
(1614) tobacco cash crop “saved” Jamestown from lack of food
demand for labor for tobacco —> led to hostility with natives (ex. Anglo-Powhatan wars)
(1619) House of Burgesses established illegally as “mini parliament”
marked beginning of self-governance in colonies where settlers regulated government to create laws
first representative assembly in america
(1620) Plymouth, MA funded by Plymouth Company as charter colony —> later royal colony and charter revoked
Pilgrims (Separatist Puritans) aboard the Mayflower seeking religious freedom from Church of England
led by William Bradford who drafted the Mayflower Compact - FACILITATED SELF-GOVERNANCE
established colony based on democratic principles such as majority rule and a “civil body politique”
Growth of the Chesapeake and the Southern Colonies
(1634) Maryland established in Chesapeake Bay as first proprietary colony
initially established as haven for Catholics - created conflicts between Protestants
(1649) passed Act of Tolerating granting religious freedom to all Christians
regional specialization focused on tobacco farming as plantation colony
economic focus on tobacco and demand for land for farming cash crops - facilitated headright system
(1618) Headright System - 50 acres of land per foreigner’s passage paid
land distribution: wealthy planters accumulated most land
created class divisions and conflict between wealthy planters and backcountry farmers
as a result: indentured servitude grew as dominant labor force: competition for land
freed indentured servants rebelled for more land and rose against aristocratic class (Bacon’s Rebellion in 1675)
began transition from indentured servitude to slavery - INSTABILITY OF RELYING ON INDENTURED SRVANTS
(early 1700s) slavery now dominant labor force
(1660s) Carolina established as whole and proprietary colony
North: consisted of backcountry farmers for subsistence farming: profited only from naval stores which reduced trade balance between England
South: aristocratic region that focused on rice and indigo cash crops near Tidewater region
Charleston imperative port city for cash crop trade
(1733) Georgia established by James Oglethorpe as philanthropic experiment
Oglethorpe hoped for colony to accomodate poor prisoners and held intent of no slavery and alcohol
became plantation colony with slavery over time — SAVANNAH AS PORT CITY
Regional Traits of the Southern Colonies
economic focus on cash crops due to good weather and held class divisions between aristocrats and backcountry farmers
profitable trade balance with England and bought English manufactured goods
facilitated by headright system
can be debated that northern carolina did not benefit trade balance due to naval store and shipbuilding profits
high demand for indentured servitude but later transitioned to chattel slavery
Barbados Slave Code: template for controlling slavery and notorious for having belief that slaves had no legal rights
education not valued as much, only consisted of private school institutions for the wealthy
Growth of New England
(1630) Massachusetts Bay established as charter colony under John Winthrop
great migation of non-Separatist Puritans to America to build a “city upon a hill”
in other words, to create a Christian godly theocratic commonwealth to serve as model for others
Puritan Society in MA Bay — MAIN FACTORS ENCOURAGED WERE RELIGION AND EDUCATION
controlled society through strict and moral code known as the “Blue Laws”
Congregationalist Church established as Calvinist church as independent and self-governing from Church of England
governed through the General Court of Massachusetts composed of only the “elect”
included bicameral legislature similar to that of the House of Burgesses and was early form of self-government
values: emphasized self-reliance, moderation, and simplicity
hostile at first towards other religions, especially Catholicism to keep integrity of commonwealth
(1647) literate society facilitated by Ye Olde Satan Deluder Act
required towns with 50+ families to establish public schools
town structures and annual meetings influenced self-governance through allowing settlers to discuss on local issues
Dissent in MA Bay — demonstrated impossibility of achieving perfect society
roger williams against theocratic government — challenged authority
(1635) banished from colony where he later founded Rhode Island that promoted religious freedom
anne hutchinson criticized puritan orthodoxy and lack of religious freedom
(1636) banished from ma
(1637) connecticut established by puritans by forcibly removing Pequot natives
established Fundamental Orders of 1638 as framework for a representative government
Regional Charactierstics/Specialization of New England
unsuitable for agriculture due to cold climate and rocky soil — inability to plant cash crops
instead based economy on fishing, whaling, shipbuilding
resulted in unfavorable trade balance and role in Traingular Trade with England
The Middle Colonies
(1660s) New York originally Dutch and taken by English without resistance — MAIN OBJECTIVE TO PROFIT FROM FUR TRADE
created allainces with Iroquois Confederacy — countered French influence
NYC as favorable trading port near the hudson River
New Jersey as properitary colony with diverse population of English, Swiss, Germans, Dutch
(1681) Pennsylvania founded by William Penn as haven for Quakers: opposite of Puritans
believed in the “inner light” and direct experience with God themselves without ordained ministers
open to various Christian sects, not so much for Catholics
Philadelphia founded as “city of brotherly love” — LARGEST COLONIAL CITY
Delaware part of Pennsylvania until late 18th century
Regional Characteristics of Middle Colonies
most ethnically and religiously diverse region including Scots-Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch
known as breadbasket colonies for their economy based on grains, wheat
favorable river systems facilitated profitable trade and transport like Hudson River — decent trade balance with England
Colonial Society and Culture
social structures were distinct and visible
merchants and wealthy planters (retailers, artisans) at the top of society, followed by backcountry farmers and laborers
held significant power especially in southern colonies
central institutions (taverns, inns, meeting halls) played significant role in revolutionary ideas and accomodation for immigrants
education: primarily made up of private school institutions
contradiction: Benjamin Franklin as effort for academic growth by establishing first academy (University of Pennsylvania) in America
Mercantilism and the Dominion of New England
mercantilist England’s policies designed to prioritize England’s economic interests over colonies
(early 1660s) Navigation Acts regulated colonial trade to benefit England
smuggling common to bypass restrictive trade policies of Navigation Acts
dominion of New England as contradiction to self-government in colonies
(1686) James II consolidated New England into one dominion to better enfore the Navigation Laws
resulted in dissolution of local assemblies and loss of autonomy - led to resistance movements
(1688) Glorious Revolution replaced James II with William and Mary Orange and ended dominion
(1689-1763) salutary neglect as policy of non-interference practiced by Britain
encouraged self-governance amongst colonies through no trade regulations
developed autonomous government structures
British Colonial Society
(1740) The Great Awakening - SIGNIFICANT FOR EMPHASIZING DEMOCRATIC INDIVIDUALISM
series of religious revivals emphasizing individual piety and democratic ideals
originated from conflicts and fears of declining piety among Puritans
key figures: Jonathan Edwards’ preaching about brimstone and George Whitefield for theatric preaching
revivalism and evangelistic efforts promoted religious freedom and growth of various Christian denominations (Presbytarians)
women participated in large numbers, finding space for equality in the church as an outdoor setting
(1700s) The Enlightenment - FAVORED REASON OVER PURELY FAITH
challenged religious traditions and promoted rational explanations of the universe (heliocentrism)
influences included John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government
outlined natural rights of people (life, liberty, and property) and social contract to avoid a tyrannical government
Anglicization of the Americas
British cultural and political practices prominent in the colonies
cultural: English, Protestantism
political: most colonies shared same self-government habits through bicameral legislatures inspired by British models
Chesapeake Colonies’ House of Burgesses
New England’s Fundamental Orders of 1638
Similarities
lower house of bicameral legislature grew in influence due to direct election by the people
shared ideals of opportunity, education, and religious tolerance
more social mobility and promotion of literacy
self-taxation through representation - colonists valued right to levy taxes through elected representatives
people have a say in how much they get taxed and why through electing a representative
led to legislative control of colonies to manage own taxes and finances
royal colonies paid government officials’ salaries: could influence their compliance and tasks through threatning to stop officials’ salaries
Differences
regional variation existed influenced by environment, trade, dialects
trade among colonies—despite their lack of unity—helped support British mercantilist policies by buying English manufactured goods
The British and Minorities
slavery of African Americans defined as inhumane institution supported by violence and justified through white supremacy
enslaved people resisted through revolts and crop sabotage
(1739) Stono Rebellion
was legal in all 13 colonies due to it being practice of broader British empire until 1833
growth of African American culture introduced multicultural region - heavily disliked by English
English and Native Americans - main conflict over use of land
prominence of multiculturalism among British North American colonies
English countered by starting cultural imperialism: diminished native culture’s superiority
English did not see natives use land to its potential and argued their religion is unholy
resistance wars resulting from cultural imperialism and conversion attempts
(1609-1646) Anglo-Powhatan Wars main focus was for land and dominance in Virginia
Indian Massacre of 1622: Powhatan attack Jamestown and kill 300+
led to extinction of Powhatan and decline of Powhatan Confederacy
(1636-37) Pequot War main focus for dominance over the fur trade in New England
failed war of extermination but claimed Connecticut for English
(1675-78) King Philip’s War led by Wampoanoag Confederacy and Metacom
one of the msot destructive conflicts in U.S history and demonstrated shift of power to English
marked by high casulaties and mass enslavement of natives for encomienda system
main trend: oppressed natives often resort to violence to resist encroachment and preserve their cultures