Bellringer: Map
Bellringer
Why
Europeans
search
Todid
cut the
out the
middle men
whofor
new
to the
East Indies
wereroutes
increasing
prices
(India)?
A person who agreed to work
for 7 years in America in
What
is anfor
indentured
servant?
exchange
a ticket across
the
Atlantic
To increase a nation’s supply of
What
thesilver.
goal of Mercantilism?
goldisand
Bellringer
Why
Europeans
search
Todid
cut the
out the
middle men
whofor
new
to the
East Indies
wereroutes
increasing
prices
(India)?
The US has access to trade
routes,
fishing
and protection
Explain
the
benefits
of the US to be
from invasion
located
between two oceans.
To increase a nation’s supply of
What
thesilver.
goal of Mercantilism?
goldisand
Bellringer
1) Jamestown was founded for profit,
How
did the
Plymouth
wasJamestown
founded for settlers
religious
freedom
differ
from the Plymouth settlers
2) Jamestown(Pilgrims)?
gentlemen were not
willing to work like the Pilgrims were
Southern because of Fertile
Which
of climate
Colonialand
America
soil,region
a humid
long
was best
for seasons
growing crops? Why?
growing
(New England, Middle or Southern)
Tobacco
What crop saved Jamestown?
How does Geography affect
people’s lives?
Founding America
The first Americans
The first American settlers came from Asia
and Africa by passing over the Bering
Strait. This occurred thousands of years
ago.
These people became the first Native
Americans
Native American values
Native Americans developed traditional tribal living groups. These tribal groups used
barter systems to exchange goods and services.
Native American groups did not believe land was owned, but that it was there to be
used for the general good.
Native American groups:
-Iroquois
-Creek
Cherokee
Europeans arrive
Europeans were driven to the new world (Western Hemisphere) by the
search for an alternative sea route to the Indies.
Europeans valued the spices, silks and other goods from the Indies. However,
middle men caused prices to soar. Soon Europeans had sailed south of Africa
for a direct sea route.
Some Europeans believed another sea route existed by sailing West.
Spice
trader
Muslim
merchant
to Italy
Italian
Merchant
to Europe
Bought
by
European
European trade BEFORE America
Europeans either had to pay huge sums to Muslim traders, or find a different
trade route. Soon Europeans had developed better sea navigation techniques
and set off down the African Coast, eventually finding the Cape of Good Hope.
Columbus
The first European to establish long lasting trade between the East and West was
Columbus.
Columbus found the Caribbean Islands, and began
Spanish domination of the Western Hemisphere.
Spanish Conquistadors quickly conquered most of
Latin America (anything south of the United States)
Riches, Riches, Riches
The Spanish quickly profited from their colonies in the New World. Shipments of
gold, silver, and sugar cane brought great wealth to the Spanish.
Soon the French and English began
claiming areas of the New World.
European Plantations
The goal of the Europeans was to make money from their colonies. The easiest way
to do that was by growing valuable cash crops, such as sugar.
As Europeans claimed the new lands, they set up large plantations, or large farms.
This is also the start
of Mercantilism.
MercantilismEconomic policy to
increase gold reserves
for the nation by
selling more than you
buy
Mercantilism
Europeans viewed the colonies as existing to create money for their nations. To achieve
this goal nations exported more than they imported.
Colonies sent cheap
resources to Britain, who sent
back expensive manufactured
goods.
Maximizing profits
To maximize profits European plantation owners began using indentured servants. An
indentured servant agrees to work for 7 years in return for a ticket across the Atlantic.
More Labor
Eventually the demand for cheap labor outgrew the supply of indentured servants.
To make matters worse, the natives died quickly from disease and overwork.
The Colonists soon turned to the use of African Slave labor. Especially in the
Southern Colonies where the weather promoted long growing seasons.
Review
After Columbus’ “discovery” of the Americas the Triangle trade developed,
permanently connecting Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Along the Middle Passage Africans, meant to be slaves, travelled to be sold in
markets and at auction houses.
American Slavery
In the Western Hemisphere Slavery started in the Caribbean Islands. Slaves toiled in
harsh conditions producing sugar, pineapples and even tobacco.
In the 13 Colonies, slaves were treated better, and even encouraged to reproduce.
Unfortunately, these children were born as slaves.
British Colonies
In Europe land was scarce, so owning property meant wealth. America had acres of
available land, and soon British entrepreneurs planned to create colonies.
The first permanent colony was Jamestown in 1607. First a Charter, or permission
from the King is needed. Then the first group of settlers travelled to the American
coast.
Jamestown was founded in Virginia near Chesapeake Bay.
Jamestown problems
Jamestown struggled for many years. There were three main problems:
1) Nearby swamps bred disease
2) Settlers were rich and not used to doing physical labor
3) Poor leadership
During the winter of 1609 to 1610 Jamestown went through a “Starving Time”. Many
citizens even turned to cannibalism.
The Starving Time
Question 3: What did Jamestown
survivors call the winter of 1609-1610?
Question 4: Which of the following do
archaeologists consider evidence of
cannibalism at Jamestown?
Jamestown and the King
In 1624 King James revoke the Jamestown Charter and turned it into a Royal
colony. He appointed a Royal governor to ensure their survival. The colony
made a legislature, named the House of Burgesses, to make decisions for the
general welfare of the colony
Legislature:
Lawmaking political
body
The House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses (rich gentlemen) was the first time English Colonists
attempted self government. This legislature will eventually influence other colonial
experiments with self rule.
Saving Jamestown
Jamestown was saved from doom by the introduction of Tobacco. This cash
crop brought revenue into the colony, saving it from disaster. In 1616 a mere
2,500 pounds was grown and shipped back to England. By 1618 over 50,000
pounds were shipped home. (Mercantilism at work)
Plantations
As profits soared from tobacco, more colonists began establishing plantations.
These plantations, or large farms, need many workers. To help entice more colonists
the king offered 50 acres per newcomer.
Another source of cheap labor were the indentured servants, or people who agreed
to work for 7 years in exchange for passage across the Atlantic.
Eventually even these sources
of cheap labor failed to
produce enough workers.
When this happened, the
Americans began partaking in
the slave trade to gain cheap
labor.
Conflict
As the plantations grew more settlers came to the new world. Soon Jamestown in Virginia
was accompanied by the colony in Maryland. As English colonists continued to take clear
more land for farms and villages, clashes with the Natives became more frequent.
Many colonists feared the natives, but were determined to continue growing their
colonies in the new world.
Bacon’s Rebellion
In 1676 a group of colonists lead by Nathaniel Bacon raised an army to fight the natives.
These farmers were angry that the Colonial governments and the rich plantation owners
were not taking care of their needs.
Bacon’s Rebellion
The Governor of Virginia raised an army to stop Bacon and his men. Bacon’s rebellion
quickly turned around and attacked Jamestown and the rich planters. They burned the
settlement and seized control. The Rebellion crumbled with Bacon’s sudden death.
Importance
1) Colonists were frustrated that only the wealthy planters (plantation owners)
got government action
2) Poor colonists were willing to fight against such government
3) Social class conflicts were growing.
British Colonies
The 13 English colonies were divided into three main sections; the New England
Colonies, the Middle Colonies and the Sothern Colonies.
New England
Colonies
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New Hampshire
Middle Colonies
New York
New Jersey
Delaware
Pennsylvania
Southern Colonies
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
Maryland
New England Colonies
Most New England colonies were founded for religious freedom. The first
New England group was the Pilgrims, who arrived in Plymouth upon the
Mayflower in 1620. The Pilgrims were persecuted in England and wanted
to live in peace.
Mayflower Compact
Upon landing, conflicts between the Pilgrims nearly broke apart the colony. To save it
the Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact. In this document, every settler promised
to obey the laws set forth by the colony government.
This is another example of the colonists practicing self government, as laws were
guided by the affairs in the colony, not England.
First Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims are best known for hosting the first Thanksgiving Feast. This feast would
not have been possible if it was not for Squanto, a Native American who befriended the
Pilgrims and showed them how to plant corn and other crops.
Unlike the early settlers
of Jamestown, the
Pilgrims were willing and
able to work
Massachusetts
Nearly 20,000 settlers followed the pilgrims example, and settled into the
surrounding area. This became the Massachusetts Bay colony.
The New Colonists did not believe in religious tolerance and established a strictly
Puritan society. Puritan societies are very “pure” and outlaw drugs, alcohol, and
other secular pleasures.
Despite being persecuted themselves, the Puritans did
not allow religious freedom
Salem Witch Trials
In 1692 several girls in the Salem area began having strange dreams, body
contortions and other ailments. The local doctors diagnoses bewitchment. Soon
other girls were showing the same signs. The girls began accusing local women of
being witches. Quickly neighbor began accusing neighbor, overwhelming the local
court system.
To make matters worse, one of the women confessed, and provided names to the
court of other witches. In total 20 men and women were killed.
Native Conflict
As Massachusetts flourished, more New England Colonies were founded. New
Hampshire was founded in 1623. Rhode Island, the first with religious tolerance was
founded in 1636, along with Connecticut . These colonies further encroached on the
land held by the Native Americans leading to frequent conflict and deaths.
King Phillip’s war
King Phillip was actually an Indian named Metacom. He united the Natives to drive
out the English from the New England colonies. He led his warriors in destroying
112 English towns, killing 600 settlers.
The English fought back and killed 4,000 Natives. After this war the English
dominated New England.
Middle Colonies- New York
New Amsterdam was settled by the Dutch in 1625 at the mouth of the Hudson
river and named New Amsterdam. New York had a wide variety of ethnic groups
and allowed religious tolerance. The settlement even had the first Synagogue in
America.
The settlement was very prosperous, and the Hudson River allowed settlers to
travel and trade far north.
New Amsterdam New York
King Charles II of Britain was very jealous of the successful New Amsterdam
colony and made a move to claim it for his own. He claimed the region in the
name of his brother, the Duke of York. King Charles then sent 4 ships and
hundreds of soldiers to seize New Amsterdam. Soon the British renamed it New
York for the Duke.
However, the British still had to
contend with the Native American
tribes
Southern Colonies
The Southern colonies benefitted from a long growing season and humid
climate. However, they lacked a work force and soon began bringing in African
slaves to work the plantation fields. These slaves were viewed solely as
property.
Cheap raw materials to England and expensive manufactured goods to colonies
English Mercantilism
To ensure profits the British required the Colonists to trade with only England.
The colonists could sell raw materials and resources to England alone. After
the English produce these materials into finished products, they were sent
back to sell toColonists
the colonists. dislike Mercantilism
because
it limits
trade
Not only could the
colonists only
sell to the
British, and
they were forbidden to
purchase goods from any other nation as well. In this way Britain was
prevents them from
guaranteeing the Colonists would make money for Great Britain.
manufacturing their own goods!!
Salutary Neglect
The 13 Colonies had much freedom to rule themselves . England largely ignored
the colonies as long as they were making money. England prized their colonies
because they supplied England with cheap raw materials. The English would then
make finished goods, which were bought by the colonists. Therefore, England
made a lot of money by exporting more than importing.
This economic system is known as….
Salutary Neglectpolitically ignoring the
colonies as long as
profits were made
Self Government
The early colonies participated in several forms of self rule under Salutary Neglect:
1) House of Burgesses- Jamestown Legislature
2) Mayflower Compact- Pilgrims made laws and promised to obey them
Colonial Economies
The size of the American Colonies allows
for a range of geographic features and
climates. Each group of colonies
specialized in their own economic systems.
Regardless of location, however, all
colonies were forced to practice
mercantilism with the British. Trade was
only through the host country and the
balance of trade always favored Britain.
Southern Colonies
The Southern colonies are located in a warm and humid climate, with long
growing seasons. As such the economy in the south was agriculturally based.
To provide enough labor, the Southern colonies relied on African slaves. In some
places the slaves made up 40% of the population.
The South had few cities, merchants or factories.
Middle Colonies
The middle colonies were reliant on both agriculture and a healthy commercial
trade. Middle colonies had both plantations and large cities full of merchants
and craftspeople.
New England Colonies
New England had few cities, but was populated with many self-sufficient farms
and towns. The New Englanders specialized in long distance trade over the
Triangle Trade routes.
Most New Englanders made a
self-sufficient living by
growing crops in the rocky
soil during the short summer
growing season
American Colonial Life
Life in America was based on location, wealth and race.
Gentry- rich plantation owners or
merchants. Wore White wigs/ powder
Artisans- created trade goods and
trained apprentices
Printers- circulated news
Farmers/ fishers
Indentured Servants- work 7 years for
passage across Atlantic
African Americans- Mostly slaves, but
even freed Africans were at the bottom
of society
African Americans
Africans counted for 1 of every 5 people in the American Colonies. They were
found throughout the colonies, but most were taken to the Southern Colonies as
slaves.
In S. Carolina and Georgia slaves grew rice and indigo. They made up the majority
of the population which lead to harsher punishments for fear of them revolting.
In Virginia and Maryland the slaves made up a large minority of the population,
but came directly from Africa to grow tobacco.
African Americans were encouraged to reproduce to create more laborers.
American Colonial Life
The goal of life in America was self –sufficiency. The American colonists had to take
care of themselves in case the supply ships never arrived.
Unfortunately, the colonists were forbidden from producing most of their own
goods due to Mercantilism. Colonists had to wait for many finished goods from
Europe.
New England Scholars
The religious groups which settled the New England region believed in education. As
such public schools were required in towns with a population greater than 50.
These educated New Englanders often became merchants, profiting from trade with
Britain.
Review
In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town
meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of
Burgesses represented
1. Colonial attempts to build a strong national government
2. Efforts by the British to strengthen their control over the
colonies
3. Steps in the growth of representative democracy
4. Early social reform movements
Review
The British system of Mercantilism was opposed by many
American colonists because it
1. Placed quotas on immigration
2. Discouraged the export of raw materials to England
3. Placed restrictions on trading
4. Encouraged colonial manufacturing
Review
The Mayflower Compact is important to the concept of a
democratic society because it represents
1. An effort by the colonists to use force to resist the King
2. A clear step toward self-government
3. An early attempt to establish universal suffrage
4. An attempt by the colonists to establish freedom of religion
Review
In its economic relationship with its North American
colonies, Great Britain followed principles of 18th century
mercantilism by
1. Outlawing the African slave trade
2. Limiting the colonies’ trade with other nations
3. Encouraging the development of manufacturing in the
colonies
4. Establishing laws against business monopolies
Review
In which area did good harbors, abundant forests, rocky soil
and a short growing season most influence the colonial
economy?
1. Southern colonies
2. Middle Atlantic region
3. Northwest Territory
4. New England Colonies
Draw the Triangle Trade
French colonies
The French claimed most of the area from the mouth of the Mississippi river North
through the Ohio River Valley. Unlike the British, the French did not create long
lasting colonies. Instead, they built forts to trade with the Native Americans (Furs
were popular)
The French did not clear land to build permanent housing or raise families, and the
Native Americans respected that.