Colonial Development, Mercantilism, Trans-Atlantic Trade, Middle Passage, Great Awakening, and Salutary Neglect

The Thirteen United States of America

  • Map created in 1784 by F.L. Güssefeld, published by the Heirs of Homann.

Southern Colonies

  • Composed of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
  • Established primarily for economic reasons.
  • Goal: To generate wealth for England through gold and agriculture.
  • Virginia was the first English colony, founded in 1606.

Impact of Location

  • Prospered due to: rich soil, temperate climate, coastal access, and river systems.
  • Water access facilitated the export of tobacco and other raw materials to Europe.

Ethnic and Religious Groups

  • Majority of settlers came from England seeking better opportunities.
  • The Americas provided opportunities for upward mobility.
  • Predominantly members of the Anglican Church (Church of England).
  • The King of England was the head of the church.

Relations with American Indians

  • Initially, trade relations were cautious but beneficial.
  • Relations became strained due to colonial expansion for tobacco cultivation.
  • Indians, such as the Powhatans, were ultimately unsuccessful in driving out the English.

Government

  • Led by a royal governor (appointed by the king) and a legislature (elected by the people).
  • In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses became the first representative government in the colonies.
  • Served as a basis for the U.S. government.

Economic Development

  • In 1612, John Rolfe introduced tobacco to Virginia.
  • Tobacco became a major cash crop and a source of wealth.
  • Used as a commodity for trade with Native Americans and Europeans.
  • Tobacco cultivation required a large labor force and extensive land.
  • In 1619, African slaves began to be used as a labor source.
  • The demand for land led to conflicts with Native Americans and also between landowners and those without land.

New England Colonies

  • Composed of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
  • Founded primarily for religious freedom.
  • Pilgrims (1620) and Puritans (1630) sought refuge from religious persecution in Europe by settling in Massachusetts.

Impact of Location

  • Relied on shipping and trade due to rocky soil and harsh temperatures unsuitable for farming.
  • Coastal access facilitated the shipping of goods from other regions to Europe, proving very profitable.

Ethnic and Religious Groups

  • Majority of settlers were from England seeking religious freedom.
  • Massachusetts was founded by Separatists (who wanted to break away from the Anglican Church) and Puritans (who wanted to reform it).
  • Both groups faced persecution in Europe for their beliefs.
  • Puritans, despite seeking religious freedom, were intolerant of other beliefs.
  • In 1636, dissenters established Rhode Island as a haven for religious freedom, with separation of church and state.
  • Leaders such as Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson were instrumental.
  • Rhode Island also maintained good relations with local Indians, compensating them for their lands.

Government

  • Most colonies had democracy-styled town meetings.
  • Citizens, specifically male church members, made the majority of decisions, allowing greater participation.

Relations with American Indians

  • Initially, profitable trade relations existed, but settlers continued to encroach on Indian lands.
  • In 1675-76, King Philip's War occurred, with Indian tribes uniting under Metacom (also known as King Philip) to resist colonial attacks.
  • The conflict nearly decimated the Indian population.
  • Large areas of land became open to settlers, marking the end of Native power in New England.

Economic Development

  • Economy centered on shipping and trade.
  • Raw materials from the Southern and Mid-Atlantic colonies were shipped to Europe.
  • Profited from selling European goods to the other colonies.

Mid-Atlantic Colonies

  • Composed of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
  • Founded for both economic and religious reasons.

Impact of Location

  • The most diverse region due to good climate and soil for farming.
  • Rivers and harbors enabled profitable shipping, relying on agriculture and trade.

Ethnic and Religious Groups

  • Settlers and religious groups were diverse, including English, Dutch, French, Scots-Irish, Anglicans, Catholics, Quakers, and other Protestant groups.
  • More tolerant of other religions.
  • In 1681, William Penn founded Pennsylvania for Quakers, ensuring religious freedom for all.

Government

  • Mostly proprietary colonies owned and ruled by one person, such as William Penn of Pennsylvania and James, Duke of York, of New York.
  • In 1664, the English took over the Dutch colony of New Netherland.

Relations with Indians

  • Under Dutch control, relations were peaceful, relying on the fur trade.
  • After the English takeover, they began enslaving Indians and seizing their lands.
  • Pennsylvania maintained peaceful relations by compensating Indians for their lands.

Economic Development

  • River systems made this region very successful.
  • Furs were transported to the coast for shipment to Europe, traded for other goods.
  • Farmers shipped products to both the colonies and Europe.
  • Port cities like Philadelphia and New York City became commercial hubs for the British Empire.
  • New York became the trade center of the colonies.
  • Pennsylvania became the most prosperous British colony.

Mercantilism and Trans-Atlantic Trade

  • From the 1500s to 1800s, this economic theory was followed by European powers.
  • Power was gained through wealth, acquired through natural resources like gold and silver.
  • Limited resources necessitated weakening enemies by accumulating more wealth.
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  • Colonies provided natural resources.
  • England aimed to establish as many colonies as possible to limit land for rivals.

Mercantilism relied on the Trans-Atlantic Trade

  • Trade occurred between three major areas in the Atlantic Ocean:
    • Colonies (America) - Produced raw materials like sugar, molasses, cotton, and tobacco that were sent to Europe.
    • Europe - Raw materials from the colonies were turned into rum, cloth, and other manufactured goods and sent to Africa.
    • Africa - European manufactured goods were traded for African slaves who were then sent to the colonies to produce raw materials.

The Middle Passage and Its Effects

  • The voyage that brought enslaved Africans to the colonies was known as “The Middle Passage.”
  • 300-400 slaves were packed into cargo holds, chained, for a three-month journey.
  • 2/102/10 died on the voyage due to disease.

Growth of the African Population

  • Colonies needed a new labor force because:
    • Indians died from disease.
    • Indentured servants were freed after 7 years of service.
  • Africa provided this labor source due to tribal warfare and the demand for rum.
  • Southern cash crops like tobacco were profitable, but required a lot of labor, increasing the use of slaves.

African Culture

  • Various tribes and languages existed on single plantations.
  • Slaves preserved their culture through music, oral history, basket weaving, and pottery making.

African Contributions

  • Whites benefited from African arts and skills, including:
    • Architecture: Bricklaying, carpentry, ironwork, blacksmithing, used to build plantation homes.
    • Agriculture/Foodways: Cultivated tobacco and cotton fields, introduced crops native to Africa (rice, okra, beans, watermelon), and new cultivation methods.

Salutary Neglect (1607-1763)

  • “Beneficial Neglect” meant Britain did not enforce its laws in the colonies.
  • Colonists ruled themselves as long as they benefited England, becoming used to self-government.
  • When Britain began enforcing its laws, colonists became rebellious.
  • Britain restricted colonial trade to prevent colonies from trading with rivals or competing with the “mother country”.
  • Colonists ignored these restrictions, seeing them as a limit on profits and freedoms, leading to smuggling which contributed to the revolution.

The Great Awakening (1730s-1760s)

  • Religious revival in the colonies, with colonists joining newly created churches focused on having a personal relationship with God.
  • Anglican and Puritan churches lost membership to Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.
  • Challenged the authority of established churches (with royal ties) and church leaders.
  • Colonists believed they could interpret God’s will without the bishop or king.
  • They wanted to be able to read the Bible for themselves.
  • Increased questions about the distribution of power.
  • Revivalists questioned the authority of church leaders, and patriots questioned the power of the king.
  • The belief shifted from authority passing from God to the king to the people to directly from God to the people.
  • This movement unified the colonists in their desire for more independence.
  • They wanted more control over their religion and everyday lives.
  • Increased education helped spread new ideas and was a major cause of the American Revolution.