US 1-H American Pageant 17th Edition Chapters 1-6 (Major Themes/Ideas)

Mercantilism and Economy

Mercantilism is the economic idea of balancing trade to increase wealth and power of a nation.

Objective: make the nation as self-reliant as possible
- NO reliance on other countries
- Increase gold/silver in home country
- HISTORICAL EVIDENCE: Europeans sought for gold in Virginia upon arrival before discovering tobacco.
Why European countries wanted to establish colonies - to establish mercantilism!
- Supplying raw materials to mother country only
- HISTORICAL EVIDENCE: Navigation Laws restricted colonial trade to only england!
What are the cons of Mercantilism on the Economy?
The colonies were buying more products than they were trading creating a financial issue within the colonies.
Multiple colonists tried to print paper money, but that was soon banned
Anything that could cause any sort of harm to British merchants was banned.
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE: The British crown were given the power of a veto (allowing them to reject any laws).

Super Quick Review: Mercantilism APUSH

Slavery

Before the 1700’s began, the colonies mainly used indentured servitude, or voluntary workers who received compensation for their labor after a term.

Not many workers ended up living the lavish lifestyle they were promised.

Native slaves were not optimal due to proneness to disease.

African slavery began in the early 1700’s with the transatlantic slave trade.

Europe to Africa to West Indies, exported Rum, Slaves, and Tobacco (Triangular trade)
Slave labor in the southern colonies were agricultural exports were large (see next section) was more intense than up north. Though slave trade was everywhere in the colonies, the southern colonies relied on it the most.
- HISTORICAL EVIDENCE: South Carolina made an advertisement for slaves, referencing the slaves origin on West Africa’s rice course (reminding South Carolina how heavily they rely on slaves). [chapter 5.5]

Places like Virginia tried to glorify African slave labor and Indentured Servitude through advertisements that displayed plantations as a “paradise.” See the image to the left.

\n \n Agriculture

Tobacco was cultivated mainly in Virginia and Maryland. It generated lots of profit for the two colonies:

Resulted in economy becoming highly centralized, not diversified

Rice was cultivated in Carolina by African slaves from the West Indies.

American Identity

Fondness for Democracy

Americans have gravitated towards democracy as a form of government and independence since the establishment of individual colonies.
- This may be due to wanting a contrast from England’s monarchy
- Historical Evidence: Mayflower Compact, fundamental orders, House of Burgesses

Economically Minded

On the backs of slaves, America’s exports increased and they began producing lots of mainly agricultural products to trade.
- This was a precursor to a clash with England (that was experiencing a recession with dwindling demand for goods)

Individualism

American individualism sprouted during the revolution
Americans have recognized that for one to succeed in something, they must work actively towards it
- There are no handouts basically

Religion

Key Terms (you really need to understand these):

Protestantism - Criticizing the catholic church
Puritanism - A subsection of protestantism, wanted to purify the anglican church quicker
Separatists - AKA Pilgrims, wanted to completely separate from the anglican church instead of waiting around
Calvinism - Named after John Calvin, believed in predestination (the “elect”) and an omniscient, omnipresent god

England’s Religious Struggle

England had a protestant reformation with more interest in colonization. When the colonies first formed they faced salutary neglect (England ignored them, and had weak laws established). Then, when the (i forgot) happened, England’s focus was shifted from colonization once more. When the colonists had finished the seven year war (with the help of England's militia) England became interested in the affairs of the colonists once more. During the (i forgot), however, England became more interested in colonial affairs once more.

The rise of Calvinism and Puritanism shook England’s religious precedents. Separatists thought the protestant reformation was happening too slow and left to form colonies of their own.

The crown also gave land grants to reinforce the Angilican church, which in the end weakened the impact of the puritans.

Major Religious Impact in the Colonies

Puritan Laws in Massachusetts - Laws governing society by puritan standards, is dress codes
The Great Awakening - Instead of a scientific, stolid presentation of religion, clergymen like George Whiteman gave speeches that people were able to connect with on a spiritual level, helping them incorporate new beliefs into their religion, and feeling more understanding of themselves. (Great awakening was also threatening to the congregational church, forcing puritans to be more lenient with who was allowed into the church)

John Winthrop and The City Upon A Hill - John Winthrop’s speech “a city upon a hill” argued that close church-government relations are necessary to building community and should be used in all successful governments.

Though other people such as Anne Hutchinson (was forced out of the puritan church and went to rhode island) and William Penn (got a land contract and started Pennsylvania) disagreed with Winthrop's idea of government, and thought it would be best to separate religion from government.

Migration/Settlement

Native Migration

There are two main theories as to how Natives entered the Americas:

The Land Bridge Theory - Natives walked up from Asia and Africa to Siberia in Russia and over to Alaska.
The Coastal Theory - Natives traveled down the pacific coast

This theory was made because for the land bridge theory to work, it had to exist years later than it actually did

Politics and Power Structures

Democracy

Historical Evidence of Democracies in America: House of Burgesses, Fundamental Orders, Mayflower Compact. \n

Brief explanations:

House of Burgesses: First democratic legislative body (originated in Virginia)
Fundamental Orders: States the powers and limits of a government. (Connecticut)
Mayflower Compact: A simple form of government created by the puritans “Majority Rules” (Massachusetts{Puritans}), set up popular sovereignty

Many democracies weren’t pure by today’s standards.

Historical Evidence: House of Burgesses only let white property-owning men vote

Geography

Native American life was largely affected by what geographical regions offered.

Historical Example: Tribes in the California region with smaller space and more access to water relied on fishing and hunting rather than agriculture. \n

Soil in New England was really rocky, so people relied more on fishing and shipbuilding for economic growth.

Spanish

Spanish Native policies: acted brutally, used the encomienda technique to convert and enslave natives
Spanish Objective: Convert Natives to christianity
- Colonies: Florida

English

English Native policies: Initially wanted trade, but as English began expanding into their land, became hostile
- Historical Evidence: Anglo-Powhatan wars, King Philip's War
English Objective: Expand the empire, increase mercantilism, benefit the mother country.
- Colonies: Virginia (Jamestown), Massachusetts

French

French Native policies: very agreeable with natives, made alliances to increase trade
French Objective: Increase trade
- Historical Evidence: French’s use of beavers and native land to increase trade
- Colonies: Louisiana

Dutch

Dutch Native policies: Fur trade, good relations with natives, intermarried
Dutch Objective: Obtain Fur and knowledge of the land through Native relations
- Colonies: New Amsterdam, New Netherlands

(French and Dutch had similar ideals, and approaches when coming to the new world).