day 4 English Colonization

English Colonization in Virginia and Pennsylvania

Introduction

  • Focus: English colonization in Virginia and Pennsylvania.
  • Argument: English colonists primarily sought Native American lands, unlike the Spanish (potential Christians) and French (economic partners).
  • The English will become the British in 1707. The lecture will cover the English in the 1600s and the British in the 1700s and may use the terms interchangeably.

Late Arrival of the English

  • The English arrived later than the Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
  • Felt like the best parts of the Americas were already taken.
  • Spanish: Rich mining areas, Aztec, Maya, Inca civilizations.
  • French: Saint Lawrence Riverway, Great Lakes region (fur trade).
  • Portuguese: Brazil (sugar).
  • Caribbean: Carved up by various European groups.
  • England was late due to their conquest and colonization projects in Ireland.
  • 1607: English found the Virginia colony in honor of Queen Elizabeth I.

English Approach

  • More English people migrated to America, unlike the French.
  • Less emphasis on converting Native Americans compared to Spanish and French missionary efforts.
  • The English were Protestant, specifically Anglican (Church of England).
  • The Church of England was less evangelical compared to the Catholic Jesuits and Franciscans.

Jamestown and the Powhatan

  • Jamestown led by John Smith.
  • Encountered the Algonquin, specifically the Powhatan band led by Powhatan.
  • Powhatan: Powerful chief leading 30 chiefdoms and about 20,000 people through war, alliance, and intermarriage.
  • Father of Pocahontas.

Clash of Worldviews

  • English brought a European idea of nature.
  • Algonquians: Polytheistic, saw spiritual power in the environment.
  • Europeans (Christian): Believed the earth was for human use and exploitation.
  • Europeans believed that humans were the masters of earth.

Early Conflicts

  • Initial curiosity from Algonquians regarding English technology.
  • Rapidly developed conflicts: Hostage-taking, demands for food.
  • Colonists faced sickness and food shortages.
  • Pocahontas served as a go-between between the Powhatan and the English.

The Myth of Pocahontas and John Smith

  • The story of Pocahontas saving John Smith is likely a myth.
  • Only account written by John Smith in 1624, 17 years after the alleged event happened.
  • Smith's account claims Pocahontas saved him at age 10.
  • Smith told similar stories of being saved by native women in Turkey and France.

Deteriorating Relations

  • Initial deal between Powhatan and Smith deteriorated.
  • Powhatan threatened to leave the colonists to die if they didn't stop attacking and demanding tribute.
  • Pocahontas married John Rolfe (tobacco exporter) after being kidnapped.
  • Changed her name to Rebecca after converting to christianity.
  • Pocahontas died of a European disease in England.

1622 Uprising

  • Major Algonquian uprising, killing ~25% of colonists.
  • Planned surprise attacks on English towns.
  • Jamestown was spared due to a warning from a Native American boy.
  • English decided to remove Native Americans and take their land.

Tobacco and Expansion

  • Tobacco became a profitable crop in Virginia.
  • Increased demand for land led to further displacement of Native Americans.

British Colonial Holdings

  • Larger British colonial project included Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, British Honduras, Jamaica, and Barbados.
  • Caribbean Islands were the most valuable colonies due to sugar production.
  • Sugar islands were the most valuable lands on earth during the 1600s.

Grouping the 13 Colonies

  • Southern Colonies: Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland.
  • Middle Colonies: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware.
  • New England Colonies: Discussed in the next lecture.

Southern Colonies

  • Environment: Hot, wet, tidelands, conducive to tobacco.
  • Economy: Based on tobacco plantations.
  • Labor: Initially Native American and English indentured servants, later African slave labor.
  • Indentured servants: agreed to work for 4-6 years in exchange for free passage to America.
  • Religion: Predominantly Anglican (Church of England).
  • Maryland: Founded as a Catholic colony by Lord Baltimore. England encouraged religious minorities to colonize in America.

Relations with Native Americans in Southern Colonies

  • Little missionary outreach.
  • Conflict and violence over land.
  • Forced tribute and food.
  • Erosion of native landholding.
  • Very little intermarriage, unlike French (Metis) and Spanish (Mestizos) colonies.

Middle Colonies

  • Pennsylvania is the biggest and most important.
  • Environment: Colder, well-suited for farming.
  • Economy: Small farms, "breadbasket" of the colonies (wheat, oats, barley, rye).
  • Trading centers: Philadelphia and New York City.
  • Religion: Extreme pluralism (Mennonites, Huguenots, German Baptists, Jews, Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Quakers).

Pennsylvania and William Penn

  • Founded by William Penn in 1682.
  • Penn was a Quaker (radical Protestant group).
  • Quaker beliefs: Equality, pacifism, inner light, no clergy or formal rituals.
  • Quakers services included rich, poor, men, and women.
  • Quakers faced persecution in England. There was no separation of church and state in England.
  • Pennsylvania: Founded as a holy experiment in tolerance.
  • Penn's motives: Religious freedom and financial gain.

Relations with Native Americans in Middle Colonies

  • Less conflict than in Southern colonies.
  • Longest peace with native groups due to Penn's pacifism.
  • Acknowledged Delaware Indians as legitimate land owners.
  • Paid higher prices for land than anywhere in English America.
  • Native American refugees from other colonies migrated to Pennsylvania.
  • Treaties and payment for land still resulted in dispossession.
  • Not a lot of intermarriage, separation between Native Americans and white people.
  • No desire for living with or among Native Americans. They were pushed west, and the land was taken.