English Religion and Rebellion in North America 1607-1700What were special characteristics of the Chesapeake region in the 17th century, and how did they affect life there?How did various systems of labor take hold in the Chesapeake?Compare the Indian Rebellion and Bacons Rebellion. What were consequences of each for Virginia?

Settling the New WorldUnlike other Europeans, English were able to make successful, populated colonies in North America

Roanoke colony The lost colony

1606After failure of Roanoke, merchants replace gentry as leaders of English expansionKing James and British ministry approve venture to North America by the Virginia Company to settle region from (present-day) North Carolina to southern New YorkAllows for more autonomy in trade, settlementCommerce, not settlement, was the goal of Virginia companyFirst expedition in 1607 (Jamestown) was limited to male traders, employees of the company

Threat in JamestownInitially dispatched to ship gold, exotic crops and merchandise to England, the workers found no goldIn the swampy environment, the men resorted to stealing and conflicts with local tribes for food and survival; only 38 of 120 lived by 160816111,200 settlers sent to Jamestown; less than half survive the starving timeAlliance with Powhatan of Algonquins turns to breaking point; marriage of his daughter Pocahontas to John Rolfe supposed to spark trade and end conflict

Tobaccoa turning pointRolfe had brought tobacco seed from West Indies, which thrives in swampy Chesapeake, creating a cash crop for EnglandTobacco becomes basis of economic life and permanent settlement of Jamestown by 1617To encourage settlement, Virginia Company creates headright system50 acre parcels of land given to colonists who brought indentured servants into AmericaSystem of representative government formed with House of Burgesses in 1619; 4,500 new colonists arrive by 1622 attracted by land, self-government, and judicial system

Impact of Tobacco in the ChesapeakeAll our riches for the present do consist in tobacco (1630)Exports: 3 million lbs. 1640 to 10 million lbs in 1660New arrivals continue to expand up James and Chesapeake, creating large plantationsHowever, families were scarceDisease; death in childbirth; orphans

Expansion of English coloniesInflux of settlers sparked war with natives in the area, especially over landPowhatans brother and successor, Opechancanough, resisted any English attempts to take land or convert nativesIn 1622, coordinates attack of 12 tribes, killing nearly 1/3 of English settlersEnglish fight back, destroying them who sought to destroy us

New DirectionsUprising leads King James to revoke Virginia Company charter, making Virginia a royal colony Church of England established in Virginia, property owners support clergy through taxationAll royal colonies afterward would be overseen by a royal governor, elected assembly (House of Burgesses) and Anglican Church

Baltimores colonyFollowing the success of Jamestown, Charles I (James successor) wanted a new tobacco colony bordering the Chesapeake1632 Land was granted through a royal charter to Charles Calvert (Lord Baltimore)Colony was to be sympathetic to Catholics persecuted by Anglican Church (Charles I sympathizer)Grant was called Maryland, after Charles Is wife1634 first settlers arrive in Maryland

Marylands religionMaryland became a refuge for Catholics and ProtestantsTension between religious groups threatened colonys solidarityleads to Toleration Act of 1649, granting religious toleration to all Christians

Slaves in the ChesapeakeMajority of migrants to Chesapeake were indentured servantssubject to harsh punishment, not able to marry, many never escape poverty (only 25% succeed)African workers, who first arrived in 1619, remained a small part of the populationSome Africans, like indentureds, could aspire to near equality with settlers and become plantersAlthough most served masters for life, not legally enslaved; common law did not legalize chattel slavery (buying/selling of slaves as property) It was only after a collapse of the tobacco industry in the 1660s that laws were passed lowering status of Africans in the region and establishing slavery

Seeds of RebellionWith large influx of tobacco in the market, collapse of boom in 1660sLeads to market for cheap labor, blacks can make it cheaper than whites Negro and Slave had by custom grown Homogenous and convertibleIn effort to exclude other European nations from taking part in tobacco market, Parliament passes Act of Trade and Navigation (Navigation Acts) in 1651Limits Dutch, who had paid highest prices for tobacco, sold best goods, provided cheap shippingRequired colonists to ship all products (including the newly, high-demand sugar) only to Britain, destroying most profitsTobacco planters increase, but Chesapeake no longer offers upward social mobility to whites or blacksRegion now dominated by white planter-elites/merchants

Corruption of BerkeleyGovernor William Berkeley became corrupt, creating a spoils system that gave tax-free land to members of his council and jobs in return for loyaltyIndian conflict also started social conflict among poor white freeholders and landless whitesWanted local Indians removed from the treaty-guaranteed lands along the frontier, so that they could own landWealthy planter-merchants opposed removal; they wanted continued cheap labor and Indians to trade withFreeholders form militia and begin killing natives in 1675; retaliation forces Berkeley to make a decision to avoid warBerkeley attempts to solve conflict by creating frontier fortsHowever, settlers saw this plan as a plot to impose higher taxes and take control of tobacco trade

Bacons Rebellion (1676)Nathaniel Bacon, a member of Berkeleys council, led a protest against BerkeleyBacon and his men kill a number of peaceful natives after governor refuses to grant military commissionSupporters threaten violence; Berkeley agrees to political reforms, restores voting to landless freemen as a solution (not enough in eyes of poor and reformers)Issue Manifesto and Declaration of the People demanding removal of Indians and end to rule of the wealthy parasites

Results of Rebellion and ConflictBacons Rebellion prompts tax cuts, reduction of corruption in government, opening of public offices to yeomen, expansion into previously protected Indian landsTo reduce chances of another rebellion, Chesapeake planters turn away from indentured servitude, Burgesses legalizes practice of chattel slavery in 1705

Big IdeasColonial drive for wealth led to growth of tobacco as a cash cropThis led to the policy of a headright systemLand-grabbing and planting led to encroachment on and conflict with local Indian populations (Opechancanough war in 1622, 1644; Indian War 1676)Dispersion of land holdings, along with poverty and the environmental obstacles led to undermining of traditional British social order and gender rolesCreation of class system and demand for political rights leads to social rebellionBacons Rebellion and reforms Fear of social rebellion leads to legalization of slavery Changes in market, rise of wealth, and shifting patterns of migration enable system of slavery to become common place by early 18th century