(133) APUSH Review Unit 2 (Period 2: 1607-1754)—Everything You NEED To Know

Overview of Unit 2 (1607-1754)

• Focus: Comparison of European colonial motives and methods in the Americas.

• Previous unit: Societal structures in the Americas pre-European contact.

• This unit explores the colonial ambitions of the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British.

Spanish Colonization

• Motives: Extraction of wealth (gold, silver, cash crops).

• Methods:

  • Subjugation of native populations.

  • Attempts to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity.

  • Establishment of a caste system based on racial ancestry.

French Colonization

• Motives: Primarily economic; focus on trade (fur, fish).

• Methods:

  • Fewer settlers than the Spanish or British; trading settlements.

  • Alliances with Native Americans, including marriages to strengthen trade ties.

  • Cultural exchange: introduced iron goods to Native Americans in return for beaver skins.

Dutch Colonization

• Motives: Economic; mainly trade-oriented.

• Methods:

  • Established a fur trading center on the Hudson River.

  • Founded New Amsterdam as a trade hub by 1624.

  • Little interest in converting natives to Christianity.

British Colonization

• Motives:

  • Economic opportunities amid inflation and economic turmoil in Britain.

  • Desire for religious freedom and improved living conditions.

• Colonial Examples:

  • Chesapeake Region (Jamestown, 1607):

    • Financed by joint-stock companies; profit-seeking venture.

    • Initial hardships (disease, famine); recovery through tobacco cultivation.

    • Introduction of indentured servitude; tensions with Native Americans leading to Bacon's Rebellion.

  • New England Colonies (Pilgrims, 1620):

    • Settled for religious purposes; established family economies.

    • Faced similar initial struggles but developed thriving agricultural and commercial economies.

  • West Indies & Southern Atlantic Colonies:

    • Permanent colonies in Caribbean (Barbados, etc.).

    • Transition from tobacco to sugar cane as cash crop; increase in demand for African slaves.

    • Establishment of strict laws defining enslaved people as property.

Middle Colonies

• Diversity: Population included various ethnic groups; economy based on cereal crops.

• Notable Example: Pennsylvania founded by William Penn promoting religious freedom and negotiation with natives.

• Political Structure: Self-governing assemblies like the Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses.

Atlantic Trade System

• Emergence of a global Atlantic economy via triangular trade routes.

  • Route: New England → West Africa (rum for slaves) → Middle Passage → West Indies (slaves for sugar) → New England (sugar).

• Mercantilism:

  • Economic system focused on maintaining a favorable balance of trade and monopolizing raw materials from colonies.

  • Navigation Acts enforced trade restrictions favoring British ports.

Slavery in Colonies

• Scale: Approx. 3 million enslaved Africans transported between 1700 and 1808.

• Regional Differences:

  • New England held fewer slaves, whereas the Chesapeake and Southern colonies had large numbers.

  • Stricter slave codes established; slavery viewed as a perpetual institution.

• Resistance: Two forms—covert (cultural preservation) and overt (Stono Rebellion of 1739).

Relations with Native Americans

• Generally poor; marked by conflict.

• Notable Event: King Philip's War (1675) led by Metacom in response to British encroachment on lands.

Colonial Society and Religion

• Enlightenment Ideas: Emphasized reason, natural rights, and government by consent.

• Impact of Great Awakening: Resulted in a revival of faith and a sense of unity among colonists; challenged established authority.

Growing Tension with Britain

• Increased awareness of natural rights among colonists; backlash against impressment practices by the British.

• Signs of emerging American identity and growing dissatisfaction with colonial governance.

Conclusion

• Understanding of Unit 2 focuses on the complex development of colonial societies, trade networks, and the early seeds of dissent against British rule.