AP World HistoryAP World HistoryPOD #15 – Europe Encounters AmericaPOD #15 – Europe Encounters America

Colonial North AmericaColonial North America

Class Discussion NotesClass Discussion NotesBulliet – “English and French Colonies in North America”, Bulliet – “English and French Colonies in North America”,

pp. 492-499pp. 492-499

Bulliet – “Colonial Expansion and Conflict”, Bulliet – “Colonial Expansion and Conflict”, pp. 499-501pp. 499-501

Early English ExperimentsEarly English Experiments

English efforts to gain control of the Americas English efforts to gain control of the Americas were a failure in the late 16were a failure in the late 16 thth century century

A new attempt in the 17A new attempt in the 17thth century was more century was more successful as they copied the model employed successful as they copied the model employed in Irelandin Ireland

England relied on private capital to finance England relied on private capital to finance settlement and hoped that the colonies would settlement and hoped that the colonies would become sources of high-value products such as become sources of high-value products such as silver, citrus, and winesilver, citrus, and wine

Plantations were seen as an investment by the Plantations were seen as an investment by the rising bourgeoisie and they handled the rising bourgeoisie and they handled the recruitment of settlersrecruitment of settlers

Virginia CompanyVirginia Company

““In 1606 London investors organized as the Virginia In 1606 London investors organized as the Virginia Company took up the challenge of colonizing Virginia. A Company took up the challenge of colonizing Virginia. A year later 144 settlers disembarked at Jamestown, an year later 144 settlers disembarked at Jamestown, an island 30 miles up the James River in the Chesapeake island 30 miles up the James River in the Chesapeake Bay region. Additional settlers arrived in 1609. The Bay region. Additional settlers arrived in 1609. The investors and settlers hoped for immediate profits, but investors and settlers hoped for immediate profits, but the location was a swampy and unhealthy place where the location was a swampy and unhealthy place where nearly 80 percent of the settlers died in the first fifteen nearly 80 percent of the settlers died in the first fifteen years from disease or Amerindian attacks. There was years from disease or Amerindian attacks. There was no mineral wealth, no passage to Asia, and no docile no mineral wealth, no passage to Asia, and no docile and exploitable native population …. The profits from and exploitable native population …. The profits from tobacco soon attracted new immigrants” (Bulliet, p. 492)tobacco soon attracted new immigrants” (Bulliet, p. 492)

LaborLabor Colonist in Latin America relied on forced labor Colonist in Latin America relied on forced labor

(encomienda) of the Amerindians(encomienda) of the Amerindians African Slave Trade forced the migration of millions of African Slave Trade forced the migration of millions of

forced laborers to the Spanish and Portuguese coloniesforced laborers to the Spanish and Portuguese colonies British colonies relied on Indentured Servants (a migrant British colonies relied on Indentured Servants (a migrant

to a British colony in the Americas who paid for passage to a British colony in the Americas who paid for passage by agreeing to work for a set term ranging from 4 to 7 by agreeing to work for a set term ranging from 4 to 7 years and ended with small parcel of land, some tools, years and ended with small parcel of land, some tools, and clothes)and clothes)

Indentured servants were racially and religiously Indentured servants were racially and religiously indistinguishable from free settlers and eventually indistinguishable from free settlers and eventually accounted for approximately 80% of all English accounted for approximately 80% of all English immigrants to Virginia and Maryland (nearly immigrants to Virginia and Maryland (nearly

Changing Face of LaborChanging Face of Labor

““During the seventeenth century approximately fifteen During the seventeenth century approximately fifteen hundred indentured servants, mostly male, arrived each hundred indentured servants, mostly male, arrived each year. Planters were more likely to purchase the cheaper year. Planters were more likely to purchase the cheaper limited contracts of indentured servants rather than limited contracts of indentured servants rather than African slaves during the initial period of high mortality African slaves during the initial period of high mortality rates. As life expectancy improved, planters began to rates. As life expectancy improved, planters began to purchase more slaves because they believed they would purchase more slaves because they believed they would earn greater profits from slaves owned for life than from earn greater profits from slaves owned for life than from indentured servants bound for short periods of time. As indentured servants bound for short periods of time. As a result, Virginia’s slave population grew rapidly from a result, Virginia’s slave population grew rapidly from 950 in 1660 to 120,000 by 1756.” (Bulliet, p. 493)950 in 1660 to 120,000 by 1756.” (Bulliet, p. 493)

House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses

Virginia was administered by a Crown-appointed Virginia was administered by a Crown-appointed governor and by representatives of towns governor and by representatives of towns meeting together as the House of Burgessesmeeting together as the House of Burgesses

After elected representatives began to meet After elected representatives began to meet alone as a deliberative body they initiated a form alone as a deliberative body they initiated a form of democratic representation that distinguished of democratic representation that distinguished the English colonies of North America from the the English colonies of North America from the colonies of other European powerscolonies of other European powers

The Carolina’sThe Carolina’s Initial settlers relied on profits from the fur trade who were pushing Initial settlers relied on profits from the fur trade who were pushing

inland to compete with the French fur traders in New Orleans and inland to compete with the French fur traders in New Orleans and MobileMobile

The northern part of the Carolinas, settled from Virginia, followed The northern part of the Carolinas, settled from Virginia, followed that colony’s mixed economy of tobacco and forest productsthat colony’s mixed economy of tobacco and forest products

Charleston and the interior of South Carolina developed and Charleston and the interior of South Carolina developed and economy based on plantations and slavery in imitation of the economy based on plantations and slavery in imitation of the colonies of the Caribbean and Brazilcolonies of the Caribbean and Brazil

As profits from rice and indigo rose, the importation of African slaves As profits from rice and indigo rose, the importation of African slaves created a black majority in South Carolina (Gullah culture and created a black majority in South Carolina (Gullah culture and language – a combination of English and African language and language – a combination of English and African language and traditions began to emerge)traditions began to emerge)

Colonial South Carolina was the most hierarchical society in British Colonial South Carolina was the most hierarchical society in British North AmericaNorth America

New EnglandNew England

““The colonization of New England by two separate The colonization of New England by two separate groups of Protestant dissenters, Pilgrims and the groups of Protestant dissenters, Pilgrims and the Puritans, put the settlement of this region on a different Puritans, put the settlement of this region on a different course. The Pilgrims, who came first, wished to break course. The Pilgrims, who came first, wished to break completely with the Church of England, which they completely with the Church of England, which they believed was still essentially Catholic. As a result, in believed was still essentially Catholic. As a result, in 1620 approximately one hundred settlers – men, women, 1620 approximately one hundred settlers – men, women, and children – established the colony of Plymouth on the and children – established the colony of Plymouth on the coast of present-day Massachusetts. Although nearly coast of present-day Massachusetts. Although nearly half of the settlers died during the first winter, the colony half of the settlers died during the first winter, the colony survived until 1691, when the larger Massachusetts Bay survived until 1691, when the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony of Puritans absorbed Plymouth.” (Bulliet, p. 494)Colony of Puritans absorbed Plymouth.” (Bulliet, p. 494)

PuritansPuritans

Desired to “purify” the Church of England, not Desired to “purify” the Church of England, not break with itbreak with it

Goals – abolish hierarchy, end governmental Goals – abolish hierarchy, end governmental interference, limit membership to those who interference, limit membership to those who shared their beliefsshared their beliefs

Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Company (a royally chartered joint-stock Company (a royally chartered joint-stock company) carried the charter with them spelling company) carried the charter with them spelling out the company rights and obligations, out the company rights and obligations, protected them from the Crowns effort to control protected them from the Crowns effort to control themthem

New EnglandersNew Englanders ““Lacking in a profitable agricultural export like tobacco, Lacking in a profitable agricultural export like tobacco,

New England did not develop extreme social New England did not develop extreme social stratification of the southern plantation colonies. Slaves stratification of the southern plantation colonies. Slaves and indentured servants were present but in small and indentured servants were present but in small numbers. While New England was ruled by the richest numbers. While New England was ruled by the richest colonist and shared the racial attitudes of the southern colonist and shared the racial attitudes of the southern colonies, it was also the colonial society with fewest colonies, it was also the colonial society with fewest differences in wealth and status and with the most differences in wealth and status and with the most uniformly British and Protestant populations in the uniformly British and Protestant populations in the Americas.” (Bulliet, p. 495)Americas.” (Bulliet, p. 495)

Most immigrants to the region arrived with their family Most immigrants to the region arrived with their family (normal gender balance compared to 84% male in (normal gender balance compared to 84% male in Virginia)Virginia)

Healthiest colony allowing for natural population Healthiest colony allowing for natural population expansionexpansion

Political & Economic OrganizationPolitical & Economic Organization

Settlers elected a governor and council of Settlers elected a governor and council of magistrates from the Board of Directors from the magistrates from the Board of Directors from the Massachusetts Bay CompanyMassachusetts Bay Company

Due to disputes between the council and elected Due to disputes between the council and elected town representatives led to the creation of a town representatives led to the creation of a lower legislative house that selected its own lower legislative house that selected its own speaker based on the House of Commons in speaker based on the House of Commons in EnglandEngland

Lacking in agricultural land that could support Lacking in agricultural land that could support little more than subsistence crops – the fur, little more than subsistence crops – the fur, timber and fishing industry provided the initial timber and fishing industry provided the initial economic foundation of the colonyeconomic foundation of the colony

Middle Atlantic RegionMiddle Atlantic Region Played an enormous role in the economic development of the American Played an enormous role in the economic development of the American

colonies colonies Dutch West India Company established the colony of New Netherland and Dutch West India Company established the colony of New Netherland and

located its capital on Manhattan Islandlocated its capital on Manhattan Island Dutch merchants established a profitable trade relationship with the Iroquois Dutch merchants established a profitable trade relationship with the Iroquois

Confederacy (an alliance among the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga Confederacy (an alliance among the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca peoples) and Seneca peoples)

Challenged by the English military in 1664 and surrendered without a fight Challenged by the English military in 1664 and surrendered without a fight becoming New Yorkbecoming New York

New York City at the mouth of the Hudson River would play an essential New York City at the mouth of the Hudson River would play an essential role in connecting the interior grain farmers to the booming markets of the role in connecting the interior grain farmers to the booming markets of the Caribbean and southern EuropeCaribbean and southern Europe

Pennsylvania began as a refuge for Quakers who were a persecuted Pennsylvania began as a refuge for Quakers who were a persecuted minority minority

Healthy climate, excellent land and peaceful relations with native peoples Healthy climate, excellent land and peaceful relations with native peoples allowed the colony to prosper and Philadelphia would grow to rival New allowed the colony to prosper and Philadelphia would grow to rival New York and Boston as ports of tradeYork and Boston as ports of trade

French AmericaFrench America ““Patterns of French settlement more closely resembled Patterns of French settlement more closely resembled

those of Spain and Portugal than of England. The those of Spain and Portugal than of England. The French were committed to missionary activity among French were committed to missionary activity among Amerindian peoples and emphasized the extraction of Amerindian peoples and emphasized the extraction of natural resources – furs rather than minerals. Between natural resources – furs rather than minerals. Between 1534 and 1542 the navigator and promoter Jacques 1534 and 1542 the navigator and promoter Jacques Cartier explored the region of Newfoundland and the Cartier explored the region of Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in three voyages. A contemporary Gulf of St. Lawrence in three voyages. A contemporary of Cortes and Pizzaro, Cartier hoped to find mineral of Cortes and Pizzaro, Cartier hoped to find mineral wealth, but the stones he brought back to France turned wealth, but the stones he brought back to France turned out to be quartz and iron pyrite, “fools gold”.” (Bulliet, p. out to be quartz and iron pyrite, “fools gold”.” (Bulliet, p. 496)496)

New France was founded 50 years later by Samuel de New France was founded 50 years later by Samuel de Champlain at Quebec on the banks of the St. Lawrence Champlain at Quebec on the banks of the St. Lawrence RiverRiver

Life in New FranceLife in New France Champlain allied New France with the Huron and the Champlain allied New France with the Huron and the

Algonquin in their wars against the Iroquois ConfederacyAlgonquin in their wars against the Iroquois Confederacy Young Frenchmen were sent to live among the native Young Frenchmen were sent to live among the native

peoples and master their languages and customs as peoples and master their languages and customs as coureurs de bois to facilitate the fur tradecoureurs de bois to facilitate the fur trade

Amerindians became reliant on the goods (firearms, Amerindians became reliant on the goods (firearms, metal tools, textiles, alcohol) they received in exchange metal tools, textiles, alcohol) they received in exchange for the fursfor the furs

The high demand for furs and pelts in Europe led to The high demand for furs and pelts in Europe led to overhunting (depletion of beaver and deer populations) overhunting (depletion of beaver and deer populations) transformed the environment and promoted competition transformed the environment and promoted competition and warfare between the native peoplesand warfare between the native peoples

The availability of firearms made these wars more The availability of firearms made these wars more deadly and destructivedeadly and destructive

Catholic (Jesuit) MissionariesCatholic (Jesuit) Missionaries

Jesuits led the effort to convert the native Jesuits led the effort to convert the native peoples by mastering native languages, peoples by mastering native languages, establishing boarding schools and establishing boarding schools and agricultural communitiesagricultural communities

Native culture was reluctant and resistant Native culture was reluctant and resistant to embracing the religious conversion to embracing the religious conversion sought by the missionariessought by the missionaries

Expansion of French CanadaExpansion of French Canada

The French aggressively expanded to the south and The French aggressively expanded to the south and west, eventually founding the Louisiana territorywest, eventually founding the Louisiana territory

France’s North American colonies were threatened by France’s North American colonies were threatened by war between England (and the growing English colony to war between England (and the growing English colony to the south) and Francethe south) and France

French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) – England French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) – England defeated the French both in the New World and the Old defeated the French both in the New World and the Old World forcing France to yield Canada to the English and World forcing France to yield Canada to the English and cede Louisiana to the Spain cede Louisiana to the Spain

France would refocus its efforts on its’ Caribbean France would refocus its efforts on its’ Caribbean coloniescolonies

Settler Resistance in Settler Resistance in British North AmericaBritish North America

““During the eighteenth century the English colonies During the eighteenth century the English colonies experienced renewed economic growth and attracted a experienced renewed economic growth and attracted a new wave of European immigration, but social divisions new wave of European immigration, but social divisions were increasingly evident. The colonial population in were increasingly evident. The colonial population in 1770 was more urban, more clearly divided by class and 1770 was more urban, more clearly divided by class and race, and more vulnerable to economic downturns. race, and more vulnerable to economic downturns. Crises were provoked when imperial wars with France Crises were provoked when imperial wars with France and Spain disrupted trade in the Atlantic, increased tax and Spain disrupted trade in the Atlantic, increased tax burdens, forced military mobilizations, and provoked burdens, forced military mobilizations, and provoked frontier conflicts with the Amerindians. On the eve of the frontier conflicts with the Amerindians. On the eve of the American Revolution, England defeated France and American Revolution, England defeated France and weakened Spain. The cost, however, was great. weakened Spain. The cost, however, was great. Administrative, military, and tax policies imposed to gain Administrative, military, and tax policies imposed to gain this empire-wide victory alienated much of the American this empire-wide victory alienated much of the American colonial population.” (Bulliet, p. 501)colonial population.” (Bulliet, p. 501)