Unit OneColonization to

Revolution

Beginning in the 15th century, (1400s) European nations began establishing colonies in the Americas. Spain, France and Great Britain (England) claimed colonies in North America.

Chesapeake Bay

Jamestown- 1607 the first permanent English settlement Settled by the Virginia Company For profit Men and boys at first Looked for gold “Starving time” 1609-1610- only

61 0f the 500 colonists survived

1. John Smith assumed the leadership of the settlement which suffered from disease, starvation, and conflicts with the Native Americans

John Rolfe introduced tobacco or “brown gold” but needed more labor to expand growth and profits.

Pocahontas- married John Rolfe

To encourage people to come to Jamestown, the British began using the Headright System ( anyone who paid for their own and/or another persons passage received 50 acres of land)

They also began using Indentured Servants (work for 4 to 7 years to pay off debt of passage to the colonies)

New England Colonies – formed in large part by those seeking religious freedom

The first was the Plymouth colony in Mass. -Pilgrims on the ship the Mayflower-1620

Education was very important

– economic life based on shipping, fishing, ship building, and lumber (small farms) – government heavily influenced by religion- the Puritans

The PuritansOne of the groups that was unhappy with the power and politics of the Church of England. They came to America for the complete religious freedom they did not have in England.

Beliefs: - man is basically evil, church attendance was mandatory- harsh punishments for those that strayed from the church

Middle colonies (NY,Penn.,NJ, Del.)– fertile soil for wheat and grains

-known for religious tolerance and trade - Most diverse in terms of

population and religion - Growing Urban population - Trade/Commerce

Southern Colonies – life and the economy revolved around the plantation and slavery – large cash crops

- No education for most - Anglicans, Methodists and

Baptists later (poorer people) - class system

Early Government in Colonies

From the beginning, we see interest in self-government based on British law

Colonists took concepts from

the Magna Carta (1215): -forced King John to sign - limits the king’s power

by law - no one is above the law -part of the historical

process that led to constitutional law

and the English Bill of Rights (1688) (limited government)

It limits on the powers of sovereign (king)

sets out the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament

requires regular elections to Parliament

right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution

Self-governmentEx. The Mayflower Compact -It was

in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulations for the sake of survival

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut: – 1st constitution- describe the gov’t set up by 3 towns in Conn.

popular sovereignty (people vote to make their own decisions) & limited gov’t

House of Burgesses – the first representative legislative body in the colonies

(Virginia-1619)

John Locke’s (English philosopher) ideas influenced the colonists

Locke believed in three Natural Rights – life, liberty, and property

Locke's political theory was founded on social contract theory. In a natural state all people were equal and independent, and everyone had a natural right to defend his “Life, health, Liberty, or Possessions", basis for the phrase in the American Declaration of Independence; "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".

Like Hobbes, Locke assumed that people established a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government

Locke also advocated governmental separation of powers

-believed that revolution is not only a right but an obligation in some circumstances

These ideas would come to have profound influence on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States

The Enlightenment & The Great Awakening- 1740s

Enlightenment—intellectual movement that values reason and science

Great Awakening—revivals to restore Puritan dedication and intensity - revives religion, leads many to change congregations-more religious choice

Effects of the Great Awakening and Enlightenment

• Both movements lead people to question authority of church and state- belief in a free press- democratic thought- religious freedom

• Movements create atmosphere that leads to American Revolution

Tensions rose between Royal governors (appointed by the king) and colonial legislature who created laws, decided taxes as well as the governor’s salary

Vocabulary:New England Colonies Middle ColoniesSouthern ColoniesJamestownHeadright systemStaple CropsPlantation SystemIndentured ServantsSlaveryGentryPuritansSalem Witch TrialsPublic EducationQuakersSalutary NeglectRepresentative Government

Salutary NeglectRepresentative GovernmentAfrican AmericansColonial WomenParliamentMagna CartaLimited GovernmentEnglish Bill of RightsCommon LawNatural RightsSocial Contract TheoryHouse of BurgessColonial GovernorColonial Legislatures

SAMPLE TEST QUESTION

1. How did a region help determine a colonist’s profession? A. Colonists were assigned jobs upon arrival based on past experience. B. Colonists trained in the same profession tended to settle in one region. C. A region’s available trade and agriculture made certain jobs more profitable. D. Colonists could only be farmers in New England.

Answer = C

2. John is a Puritan merchant who can vote. Where does he MOST likely live?A. MassachusettsB. VirginiaC. PennsylvaniaD. Rhode Island Answer = A

3. How did John Rolfe’s tobacco and the slaves seized by the English and Dutch in 1619 transform Virginia’s economy?A. Enslaved Africans and the Powhatan created a rival colony based on Rolfe’s tobacco.B. The Dutch recovered the slave ship and stole Rolfe’s tobacco plant in the process.C. The enslaved Africans improved upon Rolfe’s tobacco and created the crop that stabilized Virginia’s economy.D. Both established the primary crop and workforce through which Virginia’s agriculture grew. Answer = D

African LaborMany were captives, debtors, or

criminals who were sold to European traders for weapons, jewelry, etc.

They were brought to the colonies by ship along the Middle Passage – the trip Africans made from Africa to the colonies.

(horrible conditions)

Triangular Trade- betw. Britain and American colonies

Middle Passage

The purpose of colonies: English settlers export raw materials and then import (and buy) manufactured goods

Mercantilism— a favorable balance of trade means more exports than imports- colonies are to make money for the mother country thru trade

Salutary neglect – England does not enforce

laws if colonies are economically loyal & profitable – colonies begin to govern

themselves (Colonists still consider themselves British but want greater political & economic freedom)

The French and Indian War 1754- 1763

In 1750s, Britain & France compete for land and resources; both want Ohio River Valley

Results : 1. The colonies gained self-

confidence and valuable military experience (guerrilla warfare)

2. The colonists saw the need for colonial unity in order to meet common problems

3. Proclamation of 1763- “NO settlement in western land until further notice”

4. Place the colonies under strict political and economic rule EX. Quartering of British troops

5. Taxed the colonies to pay for the war