English Colonization in the 19th Century Examples of Colonial disunity were not surprising – Reasons: English Crown awarded colonial charters to: 1. Merchants 2. Religious idealists – different types of colonists 3. Adventurers Decisions to Emigrate 1. Rapid Population growth (1580-1650) in England created competition for food and jobs 2. New World was the land of opportunity 3. Institute a purer form of worship 4. Escape poverty, debt, jail terms, bad marriages 5. Religious and political persecution in Spain and England Upon arriving the colonist brought ideas and subcultures of which some were changed by the American environment. The New England colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies all were distinct in various ways A. Economy B. Religion The Chesapeake: Dreams of Wealth Post Roanoke, New World interest lessened English interest reappeared with English rivalry with Spain Jamestown Colonization was very costly Solution – Joint Stock Company, large amounts of cash available with a stock investment plan, with hopes of high cash returns. 1st charter – London Company – John Smith 30 miles up the James River Problem – wealth was the motivation, not permanent settlement. Wealth rather than farming (planting corn) Captain John Smith – Prevented a Roanoke repeat A. Brought order and prevented anarchy B. Traded with Native American tribes for food C. Mapped the Chesapeake Bay D. Instituted military rule John Smith was rescued by Pocahontas Reorganization in government allowed for joint stock investment to be opened to the general public. Difficulties continue, a supply ship headed to Jamestown crashed in Bermuda John Smith suffered a gun powder injury and returned to England. The colonists face a terrible winter with starvation and cannibalism. Colonists vs. Powhattan (powerful tribes) A. Hoped to coexist, but found it impossible so war took place in 1622 and 1644 B. 1644 led to the complete destruction of the Powhattans C. Surviving settlers (1610) looked to abandon Jamestown D. They encountered De La Warr and succeeding governors who lead by marshal law : Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dale E. Saved the colony, but it did not succeed at this point – no profits to settlers A Stinking Weed Key to Virginia – John Rolfe (married Pocahontas) began to cultivate a Native American crop – tobacco allowing Virginia to send tobacco to England for revenue 1. All vacant land to be planted with tobacco 2. King James who felt tobacco to be immoral changed his tune as he collected import duties (tariffs) Change in Virginia’s Government -Sir Edwin Sandys ended marshal law and instituted an assembly The House of Burgesses -Virginians who paid their transportation to Virginia were given 50 acres (headright) -The more servants brought, the more land (indentured servants) -Both men and women swept into Virginia Morality in Virginia 1619-1622 – record numbers in Virginia – most settlers were single males in their teens-twenties (indentured servants) Servitude depended on age, men were preferred for agricultural labor making the man to woman ratio uneven Indentured servants would lead to slavery They were traded and gambled away High mortality rates were caused by: 1. Disease 2. Salt in the Water 3. Native American Attacks (Powhatans) 4. Difficult Voyage Scandal and Reform Virginia governors sent servants to their private plantations for profit Results: 1. Characteristics of a Boomtown 2. No Sense of Purpose 3. No Sense of Identity 4. Unrestrained Self-Advancement King of England due to the problems made Virginia a Royal Colony House of Burgesses was not democratic – instead it provided wealthy planters with a voice Representatives met regularly without the king’s consent and wouldn’t surrender their control over local affairs 1634: Virginia was divided into counties by the assembly – wealthy planters served as justices of the peace The County Court was the most important institution of local government Virginia expanded as tobacco production increased and Native Americans were killed 1705-Jamestown was the only population center Maryland: A Troubled Sanctuary George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) – tobacco colony and refuge for Catholics G. Calvert stated himself to be Catholic, then lost his Secretary of State position in England, his son Cecilius was given the charter Vague boundaries were established and true boundaries weren’t established until the mid 18th Century by the surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon (Mason-Dixon Line) Maryland named in honor of King Charles’ wife Maryland was established as a colony for Catholics, but freedom of religion would exist so that others wouldn’t be scared off, giving Maryland a chance to prosper. Lord Baltimore became the proprietor with royal and absolute powers Those members of the colonial ruling class who purchased 6,000 acres became “Lords of the Manor” Maryland never accepted the feudal system The colony drew Protestants and Catholics 1. Lacked unity 2. Potential Civil War Lord Baltimore drafted the Act Concerning Religion (Toleration Act) Still, disunity played a major role Economic conditions poor, 2/3 of the planters lived in houses of only two rooms – comparable to the lowest classes in England Conquest of New England Pilgrims – English farmers north of London – Left the Church of England (Separatists) William Bradford (leader) petitioned for a land grant from the Virginia Company of London Left on the Mayflower for Virginia, but navigation miscalculations sent the pilgrims to New England. To maintain the government they signed the Mayflower Compact Economy: 1. Fur Trade 2. Commercial Fishing 3. Animal husbandry –grain-livestock Eventually absorbed into Massachusetts Bay Colony Puritan Commonwealth Puritanism transformed England and America – believed in predestination – some were guaranteed salvation, others guaranteed damnation. They considered themselves the “elect”. The Goal: 1. Live according to scripture 2. Battle sin 3. End corruption City on a Hill The puritans wanted to only purify the Church of England – felt the English Kings appeased Catholicism and until the 1630’s, separatism was not in the plan 1629: Puritans turn their attention to America and Massachusetts Bay Company obtains a Charter from the king The puritans felt that once in America the English government couldn’t interfere in their affairs In the first year, 2,000 people arrived in Massachusetts Bay By 1640- 16,000 men –women arrive Unlike Maryland and Virginia, the puritans came in their nuclear families Massachusetts settlers possessed strength and stability They felt they had a special covenant with God, Whom expected them to live life by the scriptures God would create for them a “City on a Hill” that would stand as a beacon of righteousness In England, John Cotton, a respected minister, urged Puritan emigrations instead of formally separating from the Church of England They accepted Congregationalism in which they would uphold God’s Law and make a confession of faith Women and Africans were considered church members, but could not vote for church ministers Massachusetts Bay Company – government structure Charter stated investors in a joint stock company could create a business organization Company leader John Winthrop had placed a government structure into action Example: Freeman category was given to all male members in the Congregational Church 1630’s – 40% of adult males were eligible to vote, much greater number than England Governor Magistrate This government was not a democracy or a theocracy – could be a “tweener” Congregational ministers had no formal political power in the Massachusetts Bay Colony The Town became the center of public life 1. Church Services 2. Town Meetings The Massachusetts Bay Colony remarkably worked together – were able to settle disputes through the courts Laws and Liberties were the alphabetized code of law printed in England 1. Explained colonial rights and responsibilities 2. Created public trust in government 3. Discouraged arbitrary exercise of authority One Challenge to Authority was Roger Williams He preached separation He opposed those with ties to the Church of England Questioned the validity of the colonial charters Massachusetts had no business punishing settlers for their religious beliefs Roger Williams was banished and established Rhode Island Anne Hutchinson also posed a great challenge 1. All but two ministers had lost touch with the Holy Spirit 2. She questioned the basic core of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 3. Sent to Rhode Island by court interventions New England Colonies Massachusetts Bay Colony lead to 4 colonies 1. Massachusetts 2. Rhode Island 3. New Hampshire a. Slow growth b. Economically dependent on Massachusetts 4. Connecticut Rhode Island was labeled as the colony of riff raff – untrue. In 1644 Parliament issues the Providence Plantations, land division. Although constant arguing existed they received a royal charter and established an economy based on agriculture and trade. The Middle Colonies 1. New York 2. New Jersey 3. Pennsylvania 4. Delaware Settled for diverse reasons Each colony developed a heterogeneous population (men-women) Ethnic and religious differences New York Dutch on the Hudson River Settlement –New Netherlands Henry Hudson (NW passage) sailed the Hudson River as he was sponsored by the Dutch Company Dutch West India Company sponsored two outposts 1. Fort Orange (Albany) 2. New Amsterdam (New York City) on Manhattan Island a. Purpose – Fur Trade b. Population remains small with a large amount of Nationalities The English took New Netherlands (Colonel Richard Nicolls) Agreement – Articles of Capitulation A generous agreement to let the Dutch remain and keep property Charles gave his brother, the Duke of York, the title to New York and surrounding territory Governor Nicolls created Duke’s Laws to maintain order o Religious tolerance o Local Government New Jersey Charter awarded to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret Located between the Hudson and the Delaware River Economy – small farms with a wide variety of European colonists Quakers in America Grew out of the English Civil War Society of Friends who spread “the Truth” and possessed the inner light 1.