The ColoniesThe Colonies

NOTESNOTES

OBJECTIVE(S):OBJECTIVE(S):

• Why were the colonies Why were the colonies established?established?

• How were they governed?How were they governed?• How did their relationship How did their relationship

with the mother country with the mother country sour?sour?

I.I. The United States started out as a The United States started out as a collection of independent colonies, set-collection of independent colonies, set-up as business to exploit the resources up as business to exploit the resources of this new land.of this new land.

A.A. The first attempt at this was a The first attempt at this was a failure. The community on Roanoke failure. The community on Roanoke Island struggled to sustain itself. Island struggled to sustain itself. When supplies from England arrived When supplies from England arrived in 1587, the settlement was in 1587, the settlement was abandoned. No one knows what abandoned. No one knows what happened to the colonists.happened to the colonists.

B.B. A second attempt to colonize was A second attempt to colonize was made by the Virginia Company in 1607. made by the Virginia Company in 1607. They set up a colony in modern-day They set up a colony in modern-day Virginia that they named Jamestown.Virginia that they named Jamestown.

1.1. Jamestown struggled like Roanoke. Jamestown struggled like Roanoke. Hundreds of settlers starved to Hundreds of settlers starved to death. It seemed that Jamestown death. It seemed that Jamestown was doomed to be abandoned as was doomed to be abandoned as well.well.

2.2. In 1612, colonist John Rolfe In 1612, colonist John Rolfe started growing tobacco at started growing tobacco at Jamestown. The colony Jamestown. The colony transformed overnight and transformed overnight and became extremely profitable. became extremely profitable.

3.3. To keep up with the demand To keep up with the demand for tobacco, more workers for tobacco, more workers were needed for the fields. were needed for the fields. Immigration to the colonies Immigration to the colonies exploded, as indentured exploded, as indentured servants—people who had to servants—people who had to ‘work off’ their passage by ‘work off’ their passage by working for a contracted working for a contracted number of years.number of years.

4.4. Eventually, as the colonists Eventually, as the colonists became wealthy, African slaves became wealthy, African slaves started to be brought in to work started to be brought in to work the fields. Whereas indentured the fields. Whereas indentured servants became regular citizens servants became regular citizens at the end of their contract, slaves at the end of their contract, slaves were condemned to a life of hard were condemned to a life of hard labor.labor.

5.5. In Virginia—as the colony started In Virginia—as the colony started to be called—a council was set-up to be called—a council was set-up to make decisions about the to make decisions about the colony. Two representatives from colony. Two representatives from each area met in the House of each area met in the House of Burgesses to make laws, although Burgesses to make laws, although the English governor could veto the English governor could veto any laws it passed. any laws it passed.

The House of Burgesses helped create The House of Burgesses helped create the expectation by the colonists that the expectation by the colonists that the people should have a say in the people should have a say in government (even though only land-government (even though only land-owning adult males could really owning adult males could really participate in the House). participate in the House).

C.C. While the colony in Virginia was While the colony in Virginia was developing, another one was developing, another one was established North of it, in modern-day established North of it, in modern-day Massachusetts. Massachusetts.

1.1. These colonists were not motivated These colonists were not motivated by money, as those who went to by money, as those who went to Jamestown. Instead, they sought to Jamestown. Instead, they sought to create a new society based on their create a new society based on their religious beliefs.religious beliefs.

2.2. They were Puritans, a religious group They were Puritans, a religious group that wanted to “purify” the Church of that wanted to “purify” the Church of England, but instead broke off to form England, but instead broke off to form their own churches.their own churches.

3.3. Originally, some left England to go to Originally, some left England to go to Holland. When North American was Holland. When North American was being opened up for colonization, being opened up for colonization, some Puritans got permission to start some Puritans got permission to start the Plymouth Colony in 1620. This the Plymouth Colony in 1620. This colony landed, by accident, near colony landed, by accident, near Boston.Boston.

4.4. On the trip over, the Mayflower On the trip over, the Mayflower Compact was drawn up. It was a Compact was drawn up. It was a framework for the government of the framework for the government of the colony. It is cited as an example of colony. It is cited as an example of colonists’ expectations for a fair and colonists’ expectations for a fair and responsive government.responsive government.

5.5. Later, more Puritans sought a charter Later, more Puritans sought a charter for the Massachusetts Bay Company to for the Massachusetts Bay Company to start another colony. Soon Plymouth start another colony. Soon Plymouth was absorbed into the Massachusetts was absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Bay Colony.

6.6. In “New England,” the Puritans were In “New England,” the Puritans were free to create a society based on their free to create a society based on their beliefs, free from control of the Church beliefs, free from control of the Church of England and the English of England and the English government.government.

7.7. The Puritans who migrated to New The Puritans who migrated to New England were called Pilgrims. After a England were called Pilgrims. After a period of difficulty and some help from period of difficulty and some help from the local Native Americans, their the local Native Americans, their settlements in modern-day settlements in modern-day Massachusetts flourished.Massachusetts flourished.

D.D. In between Jamestown and Massachusetts In between Jamestown and Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Dutch granted charters to Bay Colony, the Dutch granted charters to colonize New Netherlands, with New colonize New Netherlands, with New Amsterdam as its center.Amsterdam as its center.

1.1. Unhappy with the Dutch presence in Unhappy with the Dutch presence in the middle of its colonies, the English the middle of its colonies, the English drove the Dutch out in 1664 and drove the Dutch out in 1664 and renamed it New York. A Dutch attempt renamed it New York. A Dutch attempt to retake the colony did not last either to retake the colony did not last either and New York became another English and New York became another English colony.colony.

2.2. New Amsterdam was New Amsterdam was renamed New York City and renamed New York City and quickly became a center of quickly became a center of commerce in the colonies.commerce in the colonies.

E.E. With the taking over New York, the With the taking over New York, the English sought to build the empire in English sought to build the empire in the Americas. In the 1660’s, William the Americas. In the 1660’s, William Penn was granted a charter in modern-Penn was granted a charter in modern-day Pennsylvania for his religious day Pennsylvania for his religious group, the Quakers.group, the Quakers.

1.1. The Quakers were pacifist—people The Quakers were pacifist—people who don’t believe in violence—and who don’t believe in violence—and extended friendship to all (the are extended friendship to all (the are sometimes called “Friends”), sometimes called “Friends”), including Native Americans.including Native Americans.

3.3. To grow his colony, Penn recruited To grow his colony, Penn recruited immigrants from other parts of immigrants from other parts of Europe, such as the Dutch, French and Europe, such as the Dutch, French and especially Germans (the Pennsylvania especially Germans (the Pennsylvania Dutch that everyone talks about are Dutch that everyone talks about are actually the Deutsch—or Germans).actually the Deutsch—or Germans).

4.4. Pennsylvania also grew and became a Pennsylvania also grew and became a prosperous colony. England was prosperous colony. England was making lots of money off the American making lots of money off the American colonies and they were a prized colonies and they were a prized possession.possession.