Early America Notes

Title a piece of paper Early America Notes. Make sure your heading is correct.

European Colonies in America

Take notes from the following the slides. Red - copy Black - just read but don’t write

Colony

a country or area under the control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country.

Europeans set sail

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. This started the European exploration of the Americas. Columbus sailed for Spain. He landed in the islands off of Central America. He was followed by many others from European countries.

As you can see, the Spanish, French, British, and Portuguese held most of the land in the Americas.

Since we are concerned with U.S. history in this class, we will focus on the British. (Don’t worry, we will get to Spanish territory before long).

Jamestown

First permanent English settlement in America. Founded by the London Company in 1607 to

make money in America. Looked for gold instead of planting Nearly starved to death

Jamestown

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Captain John Smith

Forced colonists at Jamestown to work, at gunpoint, in order to get food. “No work, no food.”

Kept Jamestown from going under the first harsh year.

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John Rolfe

Married Pocahontas, the daughter of an Indian chief.

Introduced growing tobacco to Jamestown Made a profit for the colony selling tobacco to

England.

John Rolfe and Pocahontas’ wedding

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Pocahontas

Daughter of Powhatan Chief. She may have kept John Smith from being killed by her

father. Married John Rolfe in 1614 and is baptized a Christian. Taken to England in 1616 becoming a bit of a celebrity. Dies after the return trip to Jamestown in 1617 at age 22.

Pocahontas as she appeared in England.

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Plymouth Colony (Massachusetts)

Founded by a group of Separatists seeking religious freedom in 1620.

Became known as Pilgrims Sailed on the Mayflower. Wrote the Mayflower Compact, a legal document

that became first form of representative government in America.

Describe what you see in detail. Who do you think these people are? What do you know about these people?

Bacon's Rebellion, 1676

Nathanial Bacon wanted the governor to protect the farmers from the Indians, who were attacking their villages.

The poor frontiersman were also upset that the colony was run by a bunch of rich guys who didn’t care about their problems.

Bacon led a group of armed men and attacked Indian tribes. The rebellion was ended when Bacon died suddenly. The rebellion showed that the people would fight back when

the government did not take care of their needs.

Bacon’s Rebellion

The Great Awakening

Between 1730 and 1745 a religious revival known as the Great Awakening happened in America.

Led by Jonathan Edwards and other ministers Never before had average people felt that they could have

a personal experience of God while living. This lead to a sense of spiritual independence.

The Great Awakening encouraged ideas of equality and the importance of the individual.

This encouraged colonists to question the authority of the British government, and led to thoughts of independence.

The Black Regiment

One group of people that encouraged independence came right from the clergy. (ministers)

They were called the “Black Regiment,” because ministers often wore black robes.

These ministers were often at the heart of the disturbances in the colonies that led to independence.

An example familiar to your would be what Martin Luther King, a minister, did some 200 years later in leading the civil rights movement.

Why do you think ministers had such influence?

The 13 Colonies

By the early 1700’s, three distinct parts of the colonies had developed.

The Northern colonies - small villages and towns, small farms, port cities

Middle Colonies - Port cities, artisans and merchants Southern Colonies - large tobacco farms, small farms. All colonies had slaves. Many more slaves in the

Southern colonies.