colonial society, dissension, and the african slave trade

Colonial Society Overview

• Video focuses on Unit 1: Colonial Society in British North America.

• Explores the creation and evolution of various colonies.

• Emphasizes Chesapeake Colonies focusing on Virginia and Maryland.

• Discusses the themes of dissent and the growth of the African slave trade.

• The PowerPoint is organized by topic rather than chronological order.

Chesapeake Colonies

Virginia

• First colony to prosper in the British empire, largely due to the tobacco boom of the 1620s.

• Virginia's origins: Founded by the Virginia Company with Jamestown as the first settlement.

• Mismanagement led to financial issues; by 1624, the company was bankrupt.

• King James I reorganized it into a Royal Colony, appointing a royal governor to oversee it.

• Established the Virginia House of Burgesses, the first elected representative government in the New World:

  • Voting restricted to white male landowners.

  • Legislative body consists of a bicameral legislature: House of Burgesses (elected) and Governor's Council (appointed).

• Taxation required to support the Church of England, despite geographical distance.

Maryland

• Founded by George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) as a haven for English Catholics.

• Received permission from King Charles I, a Catholic sympathizer.

• Maryland operates as a Proprietary Colony, owned by an individual and his heirs.

• Named for Queen Mary I, known as Bloody Mary, to provide refuge for persecuted Catholics.

• Calvert appointed governors and officials, initially favoring Catholics.

• Enacted the Act of Religious Toleration, promoting coexistence between Catholics and Protestants, but only lasted five years.

  • Act repealed due to an influx of Protestant settlers taking control of the government.

  • By 1689, Protestants establish their own government recognized by the monarchy.

• Post-1689, discriminatory measures enacted against Catholics and Quakers, including restrictions on government positions.

Chesapeake Society and Economy

• Constant demand for labor and land; early labor force primarily consisted of indentured servants (90% of new arrivals).

• Dominance of tobacco as a cash crop; cycles of boom and bust influenced by fluctuating market prices.

• High mortality rate due to diseases like malaria; average life expectancy was only 48 years.

• Conservative social laws were hard to enforce due to weak colonial government.

• Gender norms defined roles in labor; men worked outside while women managed household tasks.

Bacon's Rebellion

• Important turning point in colonial society, occurred in 1676.

• Resulted from discontent among tobacco planters due to land scarcity and discontent with Governor Berkeley's policy of keeping peace with Native Americans.

• Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against Native Americans and burned Jamestown.

• After Bacon's death from dysentery, rebellion collapsed; however, it shifted reliance from indentured servitude to African slavery.

• Pre-existing slavery since 1619 evolved from a limited to a harsh chattel slavery system after the rebellion.

Transition to Slavery

• Introduction of African slavery began with 1619 arrivals, originally more conditional.

• By 1640, more restrictive laws against enslaved individuals diminished previous liberties.

• By 1705, enslaved African population tripled, marking a transition to permanent enslavement.

• Entry of Britain into the slave trade, notably through the Royal African Company, established competition with Spain.

• The British government saw permanent enslaved labor as advantageous compared to indentured servitude.

The New England Colonies

Massachusetts Bay

• Established by Puritans; distinct from the earlier Pilgrims of Plymouth who were separatists.

• Puritans desired to purify the Church of England rather than separate from it.

• Government structure favored church membership, political power restricted to white male Puritans.

Society and Economy in New England

• New England relied on timber, furs, and fish instead of cash crops due to harsh climate.

• Family-oriented society with higher literacy rates; families immigrated together.

• More economically equitable society compared to Chesapeake.

Challenges to Puritan Authority

Roger Williams

• Advocated for religious toleration and separation of church and state.

• Banished in 1635, founded Providence, Rhode Island as a safe haven for differing beliefs.

Anne Hutchinson

• Challenged Puritan doctrines and held popular bible studies.

• Believed she received direct revelations from God, contradicting church teachings.

• Banished in 1637; faced substantial gender bias during her trial.

Native American Wars and Conflict

Pequot War (1637)

• Caused by land encroachment by Puritans and allied tribes.

• Resulted in native village destruction and loss of life, leading to the creation of Connecticut Colony.

King Philip's War (1675-1676)

• Led by Native American leader Metacom (King Philip) in response to land encroachments.

• Most deadly Anglo-native conflict, ending with significant loss of native populations in New England.

The Salem Witch Trials (1692)

• Reflective of the Puritan belief in witchcraft and increasing societal anxieties within Massachusetts Bay.

• Triggered by accusations against specific individuals, leading to mass hysteria and executions.

• Contributed to declining influence of Puritanism as colonists began to question the rationale behind the accusations.

Conclusion

• Colonial society in British North America was shaped by diverse events and factors.

• Rapid changes in labor systems, conflicts with native tribes, and internal dissent significantly influenced early American identity.