SEEDS OF AN AMERICAN IDENTITY IN THE 17TH CENTURY

EUGENIA LANGANMATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLHIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDA

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

LONG-RANGE: TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THERE A DISTINCT AMERICAN IDENTITY AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION (PROMPT FOR UNIT 2 FRQ)? AFTER THE REVOLUTION?

FOR TODAY: WHAT WERE THE “SEEDS” OF AN AMERICAN IDENTITY IN THE 178TH CENTURY? WHEN DID THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA START THINKING OF THEMSELVES AS A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENGLISH?

MY THESIS: THE SEEDS OF AN AMERICAN IDENTITY EMERGED IN THE CHESAPEAKE AND NEW ENGLAND AROUND THE SAME TIME – 1676 – DUE TO TWO EVENTS:

BACON’S REBELLION

KING PHILIP’S WAR

WHAT “FERTILIZER” EXISTED FROM THE BEGINNING OF COLONIZATION?

RELIGIOUS

NEW ENGLAND PURITAN CONGREGATIONS SEPARATE FROM CHURCH OF ENGLAND

CHESAPEAKE – MOST SETTLERS WERE NOMINALLY ANGLICAN BUT NO ANGLICAN BISHOPS, FEW CHURCHES

CITY ON A HILL IDEOLOGY

PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM ENGLAND: > 3,000 MILES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

THROUGHOUT THE 17TH C. (IN FACT UNTIL ADVENT OF STEAM SHIPS IN 19TH C.) THE VOYAGE TOOK 5-6 WEEKS AND WAS HAZARDOUS

MORE THAN 3,000 MILES BETWEEN BRITISH COLONIES AND BRITAIN

VOYAGE BY SAIL TOOK 5-6B WEEKS. SHIPWRECKS, ONBOARD DISEASES COMMON

BACON’S REBELLION

BACKGROUND:

VIRGINIA’S ECONOMY DEPENDED ON GROWING TOBACCO AND EXPORTING IT TO BRITAIN

CASH CROPS MUST BE GROWN ON LARGE PLANTATIONS (NOT PROFITABLE ON A SMALL SCALE) FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING . . .

TOBACCO AGRICULTURE IS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE (SEE GEORGE ALSOP, “THE IMPORTANCE OF TOBACCO,” PHD 2-9)

THE MOST PROFITABLE TOBACCO PLANTATION – IN THE VA. TIDEWATER REGION

HEADRIGHT SYSTEM ENCOURAGED LAND CLAIMS AND IMPORTATION OF LABOR – ALL GOOD TIDEWATER LAND CLAIMED WITHIN INTRODUCTION OF TOBACCO WEALTHY TIDEWATER PLANTER CLASS

PLANTATION LABOR = INDENTURED SERVANTS.TEENAGE BOYS AND YOUNG MEN WHO AGREED TO WORK FOR TERMS OF YEARS IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR PASSAGE TO AMERICA.

AFRICANS FIRST ARRIVED VIRGINIA 1619 – PROBABLY INDENTURED SERVANTS

BUT MOST HISTORIANS DO NOT THINK THERE WERE MANY SLAVES IN VIRGINIA UNTIL THE LATE 17TH C. IF YOU READ CHAPTER 3 OF ATF, YOU KNOW WHY:

THE ENGLISH, UNLIKE THE SPANISH, HAD NO EXPERIENCE OF SLAVERY

SLAVES WERE A BAD INVESTMENT. BOTH WHITE AND AFRICAN PLANTATION LABORERS USUALLY DIED SOON, AND SLAVES COST MORE.

MOST AFRICANS IN VIRGINIA KEPT THEIR AFRICAN NAMES UNTIL THE LATE 17TH C.

THERE ARE COURT RECORDS OF AFRICANS WHO WERE ENSLAVED BY PLANTERS SUING AND WINNING THEIR FREEDOM.

VIRGINIA HAD NO REAL SLAVE CODE UNTIL 1680.

SHIP RECORDS SHOW THAT MOST IMMIGRANTS TO THE CHESAPEAKE IN THE 17TH CENTURY WERE TEENAGE BOYS AND YOUNG MEN (ALMOST ALL INDENTURED SERVANTS).

A FEW FREED INDENTURED SERVANTS WERE GIVEN LAND – BUT NOT TIDEWATER LAND

BUT ANYONE COULD OWN LAND IN AMERICA THEN – JUST GO OUT TO THE FRONTIER AND TAKE IT!

FRONTIER IN AMERICA = THE “WILDERNESS” JUST BEYOND “CIVILIZATION.”

THUS – MANY FREED INDENTURED SERVANTS HAVE SMALL FARMS ON THE FRONTIER – GROWING TOBACCO (ON LESS FERTILE LAND! WHERE INDIANS WERE!)

TWO DISTINCT SOCIAL CLASSES IN VIRGINIA =

1) RICH TIDEWATER PLANTERS (HOUSE OF BURGESSES, APPOINTMENTS FROM ROYAL GOVERNOR)

2) POOR TOBACCO FARMERS ON/NEAR FRONTIER

N.B. MORE AND MORE OWNED ENOUGH PROPERTY TO VOTE!

ALSO IN THE BACKGROUND: TOBACCO PRICES DROPPED IN THE 1660s.

NOT GREAT FOR TIDEWATER PLANTERS SOME POLITICAL UNREST

BUT DISASTROUS FOR THE SMALL FARMERS.

1674 – A GROUP OF FRONTIER FARMERS DEMAND THAT ALL INDIANS BE REMOVED SEVERAL ARMED CONFRONTATIONS FARMERS V. INDIANS 1675 – 75

GOV. BERKELEY PROPOSED BUILDING FORTS ALONG FRONTIER – FARMERS THINK IT WILL RAISE TAXES

NATHANIEL BACON

BACON WAS A WEALTHY TIDEWATER PLANTER (THAT’S HIS HOUSE, VERY GRAND FOR 17TH C. VA.)

HE WAS IN HOUSE OF BURGESSES , BUT NOT IN FAVOR W/ BERKELEY

1675 – BACON ARRIVES ON FRONTIER WITH SUPPLY OF BRANDY ELECTED LEADER OF FARMER MILITIA

BACON AND ABOUT 500 FARMERS MARCHED TO JAMESTOWN – HE DEMANDED COMMISSION TO FIGHT INDIANS ON FRONTIER (GOT IT)

THE REBELLION – JULY 30, 1676 – BACON ISSUES HIS DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA (PHD 3-2).

WHAT WERE HIS MAIN COMPLAINTS?

BERKELEY NOT DOING ENOUGH AGAINST INDIANS

UNFAIR TAXES

BERKELEY APPOINTED HIS “FAVORITES” TO OFFICES

REBELS GO TO FRONTIER, SLAUGHTER SOME INDIAN

SEPTEMBER 19, 1676 – BACON AND FOLLOWERS RETURN TO JAMESTOWN, BURN COLONIAL CAPITOL TO GROUND, LOOT BERKELEY’S HOUSE (BERKELEY FLED TO MD.)

OCTOBER 26, 1676 – BACON DIED FROM DYSTENTERY REBELLION FIZZLES

BERKELEY RETURNS, HAD ABOUT 2O REBELS HUNG (LATER HE IS RECALLED TO ENGLAND)

?? WHY IS BACON’S REBELLION A SEED OF AMERICAN IDENTITY?

BECAUSE AFTERWARDS, RICH TIDEWATER PLANTERS KNOW THEY NEED THE SUPPORT OF POOR FARMERS

MORE AND MORE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE AND EVEN THOSE WHO CAN’T MIGHT REBEL

THEREFORE, FROM THEN ON RICH PLANTERS IN HOUSE OF BURGESSES DEPICT SELVES AS CHAMPIONS OF “THE PEOPLE” – AGAINST THE ROYAL GOVERNOR!

ANOTHER EFFECT OF BACON’S REBELLION: SLAVERY IN VIRGINIA (AND REST OF SOUTH EVENTUALLY).

INDENTURED SERVANTS MAY COST LESS UPFRONT – BUT MORE COSTLY TO PLANTERS IN THE LONG RUN!

IN LAST QUARTER OF 17TH C. FEWER INDENTURED SERVANTS ARE BROUGHT TO THE CHESAPEAKE – AND MORE AFRICANS ARE BROUGHT IN – ALSO BY END OF 17TH C., MORE AFRICAN WOMEN (BREEDERS)

1680 – FIRST TRUE VA. SLAVE CODE: ANY IMMIGRANTS WHO WERE NOT CHRISTIANS “AT THE TIME OF THEIR PURCHASE” AND ALL OF THEIR DESCENDANTS = SLAVES. NO RIGHT TO GO TO COURT TO PROVE OTHERWISE

1704 – VIRGINIA ENACTS BARBADOS-STYLE SLAVE CODE – ALL IMMIGRANTS NOT IN THEIR NATIVE LAND = SLAVES AND “REAL ESTATE.” NO CONSEQUENCES FOR MASTERS WHO KILL SLAVES.

KING PHILIP’S WAR (METACOM’S WAR) 1675-76

BACKGROUND:

METACOM/ METACOMET = SON OF MASASSOIT

FROM TIME ENGLISH ARRIVED IN N.E., THEY TRADED IRON WEAPONS TO INDIANS FOR MEAT AND FUR (SEE PHD 3-4)

BY 1670S, DUE TO EFFORTS OF PURITAN MISSIONARY JOHN ELIOT, THERE WERE 65 “PRAYING INDIAN TOWNS” IN N.E. (RESERVATIONS)

ENGLISH TOOK MORE AND MORE INDIAN LAND METACOM DISTRUSTFUL, ESP. AFTER BROTHER WAMSUTTA DIED AFTER VISIT TO ENGLISH (1662)

METACOM MAY HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING ALLIANCE FOR ATTACK (?)

JUNE 1675 - PLYMOUTH ARRESTED AND HUNG THREE WAMPANOAGS INDIAN RAIDS ON A PURITAN VILLAGE

LATER IN JUNE – MASSACHUSETTS AND PLYMOUTH MILITIAS LAUNCH WAR AGAINST INDIANS

THIS 1772 ILLUSTRATION OF METACOM IS BY PAUL REVERE. FROM THE ENTERTAINING HISTORY OF KING PHILIP’S WAR BY BENJAMIN CHURCH

WAR IS FOUGHT IN NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS/ MAINE, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND

COLONISTS WIN – BUT IT TAKES > 1 YEAR, UNTIL AUGUST 1876

ONE OF THE BLOODIEST WARS EVER FOUGHT ON “U.S.” SOIL – APROX. DEATH TOLL/%

ENGLISH 800 1.5% (OF 50,000)INDIANS 3,000 15% (OF 20,000)

DEAD INDIANS INCLUDE ALMOST ALL PRAYING INDIANS -- SLAUGHTERED

DOZENS OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND TOWNS AND VLLAGES WERE DESTROYED OR ABANDONED

PROVIDENCE, R.I. WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND

N.B. W/O ADVANTAGE OF DISEASE, ONCE INDIANS HAD SAME WEAPONS AS WHITES, IT WAS NEVER EASY TO WIN WARS AGAINST THEM.

AFTER THE WAR -- NO TROUBLE W/INDIANS IN N.E. EXCEPT NEAR FRONTIERS W/NEW FRANCE

WHY IS THE WAR A SEED OF AMERICAN IDENTITY?

A HARROWING EXPERIENCE FOR COLONISTS – AND UNIQUELY AMERICAN

(ENGLAND HADN’T BEEN INVADED SINCE NORMAN CONQUEST - - AND THAT NOT DEVASTATING)

OTHER SEEDS IN 17TH C.?

NAVIGATION ACTS OF 1661 & 1663 (MERCANTILISM)

1661 “ENUMERATED GOODS” FROM COLONIES HAD TO GO THROUGH ENGLAND (AND TAXED) BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE ELSE

ENUMERATED GOODS INCLUDE TOBACCO, COTTON, SUGAR, RICE, ETC.

1663 – ALL NON-ENGLISH GOODS BOUND FOR COLONIES HAD TO GO TO ENGLAND, TAXED, RELOADED ON ENGLISH SHIPS

COLONISTS (ESP. N.E.) RESENTED – WANTED TO TRADE DUTCH, FRENCH COLONIES (CHEAPER SUGAR), DIRECTLY WITH EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

COLONISTS ALSO MOSTLY DEFIED NAVIGATION ACTS N.E. SMUGGLERS ?

AIMED AT DUTCH – AFTER DUTCH OUT OF N. AMERICA (1674) BRITAIN DIDN’T TRY TO ENFORCE NAV. ACTS UNTIL . . .

1686 – 89 = THE DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND

JAMES II PUT ALL OF NEW ENGLAND + NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY UNDER GOVERNOR EDMUMD ANDROS WHO:

ENFORCED NAVIGATION ACTSABOLISHED TOWN MEETINGS TRIED TO ABOLISH COLONIAL ASSEMBLIES MADE CHURCH OF ENGLAND OFFICIAL RELIGION

MANY COLONISTS IN DOMINION HATE ANDROS AND KING ? BUT MOST IN ENGLAND HATED JAMES II!

GLORIOUS REVOLUTION – ENGLISH PARLIAMENT RAN JAMES II OUT – WILLIAM OF ORANGE AND HIS WIFE, JAMES’S DAUGHTER MARY BECOME KING AND QUEEN -- SIGN ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

1689 -- REVOLTS IN COLONIES:

BOSTON (MATHERS ARE RINGLEADERS) – ARMED COLONISTS ARRESTED ANDROS (BUT HE ESCAPED) – BRITISH TROOPS REFUSED TO FIRE ON COLONISTS!

19TH C. ILLUSTRATION OF ARREST OF ANDROS – NOTE THAT IT’S PRESENTED AS HARBINGER OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION

MD. -- COODE’S UPRISING – SUCCEEDED AT OUSTING CALVERT’S MD. BECAME ROYAL COLONY

NY – LEISLER’S REBELLION – SUCCEEDED AT GETTING LEISLER HANGED, DISEMBOWELED AND BURNED ALIVE

? ALL THESE REVOLUTIONS WERE IN THE NAME OF WILLIAM AND MARY – BUT TWO OF THEM DID SUCCEED!

SALUTARY NEGLECT - 1689 – 1763

!

BRITAIN ALLOWED COLONIAL ASSEMBLIES TO GOVERN COLONIES FOR 74 YEARS

NO ENFORCEMENT OF NAVIGATION ACTS