Time period 2

Essential Question

  • How did different values lead to different American subcultures in the Chesapeake, Southern, New England, & Middle colonies?

Overview of Colonial Subcultures

  • Each colonial region had distinct cultural and social characteristics influenced by the values of its migrants:
    • The Chesapeake
    • New England
    • Middle Colonies
    • The Lower South

The Chesapeake Colonies: Virginia & Maryland

  • The search for wealth drove colonization efforts.
  • Major obstacles:
    • Lack of funding from the crown, solved by joint-stock companies.
    • The London Company (Virginia Company) received the first charter from King James in 1606 to establish colonies.

Expectations vs. Reality in Jamestown

  • Jamestown was founded in 1607; settlers were unprepared and expected immediate wealth.
  • Poor leadership led to high mortality rates:
    • Starving time (1609-1610) due to a lack of food and the failure to cultivate land.
    • Attacks from local Native Americans, notably the Powhatan.

Economic Development Through Tobacco

  • John Rolfe introduced a profitable hybrid tobacco, transforming the economy:
    • 1618: Virginia produced 20,000 pounds of tobacco.
    • Growth of the cash crop economy led to large plantations and increased settlement via headrights (land grants for settlers).

1619: A Pivotal Year

  • Virginia House of Burgesses established, the first legislative assembly in America.
  • Arrival of the first African slaves at Jamestown.

Population Growth and Challenges in Virginia

  • Rapid population growth amidst adversities:
    • Diseases, Native American attacks, bad treatment of indentured servants.
    • By 1750, the demographics indicated a significant African enslaved population alongside a European settler population.

Maryland: A Refuge for Catholics

  • Founded by Sir George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) as a haven for Catholics.
  • The Maryland Toleration Act (1649) ensured freedom of religion for Christian settlers.
  • Maryland largely populated by poor Protestant farmers.

New England Colonies

  • Stemming from religious dissent:
    • Pilgrims (separatists) formed Plymouth, creating the Mayflower Compact for self-governance.
    • Puritans, led by John Winthrop, created a “city on a hill,” focusing on community and public good.
  • Notable events and characteristics:
    • Puritan social structure emphasized communal well-being over individual wealth.
    • Political systems characterized by town meetings and Congregationalist governance.

The Middle Colonies: Diversity and Religious Freedom

  • Settlements like New York and Pennsylvania emerged as melting pots of cultures and religious sects:
    • Quakers in Pennsylvania promoted equality and pacifism, leading to a diverse population.
    • Initial governance by elite proprietors and evolving to include democratic elements.

The Lower South: Development and Slavery

  • Reliance on slave labor for agricultural economies (tobacco, indigo, rice).
  • Differing from Chesapeake colonies due to a more diverse settler population and absence of a unified “Solid South.”

Conclusion

  • Each colony faced struggles for survival but developed distinct identities based on the core values of their settlers.
  • The evolution towards a unified American identity began during the American Revolution, fostering a sense of shared destiny among the colonies.

Reflection Questions

  • Did any colonies meet the expectations of their founders? Why or why not?