1607 JAMESTOWN
First
permanent settlement
John Smith/Pocahontas
 What
is the story?
 Whose perspective is correct?
 What really happened?
ENGLISH COLONIZATION
How
does it compare to
Spanish Colonization?
What
is the value of the
English Colonies? What
purpose do they serve?
PURPOSE OF COLONIES
 Strengthen
Mother Country.
 Source of Raw
materials.
 Market Place for
finished
products.
 Mercantilism:

an economic system
developing during the decay
of feudalism to unify and
increase the power and
especially the monetary
wealth of a nation by a strict
governmental regulation of
the entire national economy
usually through policies
designed to secure an
accumulation of bullion, a
favorable balance of trade,
the development of
agriculture and
manufactures, and the
establishment of foreign
trading monopolies
PURPOSE OF COLONIES
Military
Base.
Release valve for excess
population.
Export System of govt., values,
religion.
WHY DID INDIVIDUALS COME TO THE NEW
WORLD?
To
make money.
Liberty / Freedom.
Adventure/ exploration.
Fleeing from Justice.
TREATY OF TORDESILLAS
1494
North
America claimed by
Spain
1588 Defeat of the Spanish
Armada by England sparks
confidence.
VIRGINIA COMPANY
Started
with 6 million acres
Indian massacre spawns
investigation by the crown.
Charter revoked due to
dismal conditions
Royal Colony 1624-1776
VIRGINIA COMPANY
Laws
approved by King
House of Burgesses
 Oldest
assembly in colonies
 All adult free men could vote
for Burgesses
 Some level of independent
thinking.
VIRGINIA COMPANY
Tobacco
dominates the
economy.
Labor intensive
2-3 times the wages in
Virginia than in England.
HEADRIGHT SYSTEM
Settlers
received 50 acres of
land if they paid for their
own voyage.
 Pull
factor
 What type of settler/pilgrim?
INDENTURED SERVANTS
Cannot
pay for voyage.
4-7 year term
Headright goes to the
master/planter.
 80%
of immigrants
 Rich get richer
 Land not available for the
poor
LAWS (SLAVES, SERVANTS)
Indenture
can be double for
running away.
Slave status inherited from
mother.
Baptism or conversion to
Christianity does not
emancipate. (compatable
LAWS (SLAVES, SERVANTS)
Killing
a slave is legal.
Use of force to suppress
rebellious slaves.
LIFE IN THE CHESAPEAKE
Religious to a certain extent.
Most people are Protestant
Real religion was tobacco and
trying to make money.

MERCANTILIST ASSUMPTIONS
What
was good for England
should determine policy.
YEOMAN FARMER
Subsistence
farming:
BACON’S REBELLION
3 developments:
1) Ample supply depresses
tobacco prices. Planter profits
decrease.
2) Mortality rate declined most
people outlived indenture.
3) Planter Elite formed
compound their success.
BACON’S REBELLION
Land
was in short supply.
Indian lands protected and
off limits.
New freed men from
Indenture had to get land on
the frontier
Population growing.
REBELLION CRUSHED
Bacon dead
Reforms and Bacon’s laws
repealed.
New Governor in place.
Little effort to stop
encroachment of Indian land

 Better
to fight the Indians
MOVE TOWARD SLAVE SYSTEM
Labor
needs of Planters met.
Slaves more expensive but
never became free.
Difference between planters
and yeomen diminish.
White = Free
White majority maintained