Period 2


Timeline

Founding of Jamestown (1607)
First permanent English settlement in North America, founded in Virginia. Initially struggled with disease, starvation, and conflict with Powhatan Confederacy, but later thrived with tobacco.

Pilgrims settle Plymouth (1620)
Separatists (Pilgrims) left England, seeking religious freedom. Wrote the Mayflower Compact, an early example of self-government and majority rule.

“City on the Hill” (1630)
John Winthrop’s sermon to Massachusetts Bay colonists: Puritans must build a godly community as a model of moral living for the world. Symbol of religious mission and unity.

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)
Frontier settlers in Virginia, led by Nathaniel Bacon, rebelled against Governor Berkeley over Native raids and land. Revealed tensions between poor farmers vs. elites → increased reliance on enslaved Africans instead of indentured servants.

King Philip’s War (1675–1676)
Conflict between New England colonists and Native leader Metacom (“King Philip”). Very deadly; Native resistance in New England crushed, opening land for colonial expansion.

Salem Witch Trials (1692)
Hysteria in Massachusetts led to 20 executions. Showed dangers of religious extremism and tensions in Puritan society.

Virginia Slave Codes (1705)
Laws defined slavery as hereditary and based on race, legally codifying African slavery and removing rights from enslaved people.

Great Awakening (1730s–1740s)
Religious revival across colonies. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield stressed emotional, personal faith. Encouraged questioning of authority and more religious diversity.

Zenger Case (1735)
John Peter Zenger tried for criticizing New York governor in his newspaper. Jury ruled in his favor → early victory for freedom of the press.

French & Indian War starts (1754)
Conflict between Britain & France (with Native allies) over control of North America. Britain wins but war costs lead to taxing colonies, setting stage for Revolution.


Period 2 Concepts

1. Colonial Regional Differences

  • Definition: 

    • New England 

      • Economy

        • subsistence farming

        • water related – fish, whaling, shipbuilding

        • timber

      • Religion

        • Puritan

      • Community

        • tight-knit towns

        • church focused

        • turn into larger towns

    • Middle

      • Economy

        • farming – “breadbasket”, wheat, barley, oats

        • water related – fish, shipping

        • manufacturing

      • Religion

        • Mostly Christian

        • Mostly religious freedom

        • Quakers in PA (colonial hippies)

        • MD Act of Toleration – all Christians are welcome

        • Some Jewish

      • Community

        • Towns

        • some large cities

    • Chesapeake Colonies

      • MD and VA

      • Economy

        • Tobacco

        • Both use indentured servants, then slave labor

          • Indentured servants – someone doing contracted labor (usually a set amount of time) to pay off debt (for passage to the New World, or due to a crime); similar to slavery

      • VA eventually dominated and shaped colonial and future American politics.

    • South

  • Significance: Shaped economy, culture, and society in each region.

2. Mercantilism

  • Definition: Economic system where colonies exist to benefit the mother country (England).

  • Significance: Led to Navigation Acts and colonial resentment toward trade restrictions.

3. Change in Labor Systems

  • Definition: Shift from indentured servants to African slavery on plantations.

  • Significance: Slavery became the foundation of the Southern economy.

4. Slavery in the Colonies

  • Definition: Enslaved Africans worked on plantations in the South; smaller numbers in North.

  • Significance: Laws like Virginia Slave Codes made slavery permanent and hereditary.

5. Colonists’ Interactions with Natives

  • Definition: Ranged from trade and alliances (Middle Colonies) to wars and land conflicts (New England & South).

  • Significance: Wars like King Philip’s War(NE) cleared land for colonists and reduced Native power.

6. Religious Ideals in the Colonies

  • Definition: Puritan influence in New England; diversity in Middle Colonies; Great Awakening encouraged personal faith, Mostly Christian(South)

  • Significance: Shaped politics, community life, and promoted questioning authority.

7. Colonial Resistance Towards British

  • Definition: Colonists resisted mercantilist policies, smuggled goods, and challenged authority (e.g., Zenger trial).

  • Significance: Early examples of challenging imperial control, laying groundwork for Revolution.

Main topic : 

1. Las Casas vs. Sepúlveda (1550s – Valladolid Debate)

  • Las Casas: Said Natives were rational, deserved rights, and should be converted peacefully.

  • Sepúlveda: Argued Natives were “natural slaves” and conquest/enslavement was justified.

  • Significance: First big debate over Native treatment → shows moral conflict of colonization.


2. Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

  • Poor farmers and former indentured servants in Virginia rebelled against Governor Berkeley over Native attacks and lack of land.

  • Rebellion failed but terrified elites.

  • Significance: Planters turned away from indentured servitude and expanded African slavery for labor.


3. Mercantilism

  • Economic theory: colonies exist to enrich the mother country (England).

  • Colonies supply raw materials, buy manufactured goods.

  • Significance: Led to Navigation Acts and colonial resentment/smuggling → early resistance to British control.


4. Colonial Regional Differences

  • New England: Puritans, small farms, shipbuilding, trade, religion central to community.

  • Middle Colonies: Diverse population, religious tolerance, “breadbasket” farming (grains).

  • Southern Colonies: Large plantations, cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo), heavy reliance on slavery.

  • Significance: Regional differences shaped politics, society, and economy.


5. Act of Toleration (1649, Maryland)

  • Law passed in Maryland to protect religious freedom for all Christians (Protestants and Catholics).

  • Significance: First colonial law protecting religious freedom, though it excluded non-Christians.


6. John Winthrop – “City upon a Hill” (1630)

  • Puritan governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

  • Said their colony must be a “City upon a Hill,” a model Christian community for the world.

  • Significance: Shows Puritan religious mission and influence on government.


7. Anne Hutchinson & Roger Williams

  • Anne Hutchinson: Banished for challenging Puritan ministers and promoting individual interpretation of the Bible.

  • Roger Williams: Criticized lack of religious tolerance; founded Rhode Island with separation of church and state.

  • Significance: Early push for religious freedom and dissent against Puritan authority.


8. Religious Freedom in Pennsylvania

  • Founded by William Penn as a safe haven for Quakers.

  • Allowed religious tolerance for many groups (Quakers, Catholics, Jews, Protestants).

  • Significance: Attracted diverse settlers, became a model of religious liberty in the colonies.


9. King Philip’s War (1675–1676)

  • Native leader Metacom (“King Philip”) united tribes against New England colonists.

  • One of the deadliest wars in colonial America.

  • Significance: Ended Native resistance in New England, cleared land for English expansion.


10. Great Awakening (1730s–1740s)

  • Religious revival across colonies.

  • Preachers like Jonathan Edwards (“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”) and George Whitefield used emotional sermons.

  • Significance: Encouraged personal faith over church authority; promoted unity and questioning of leaders.


11. Zenger Trial (1735)

  • John Peter Zenger, a printer in New York, was tried for libel after criticizing the governor.

  • Jury acquitted him because his statements were true.

  • Significance: Early step toward freedom of the press in America.