MR LIPMANS APUS POWERPOINT CHAPTER 4 Chesapeak e

MR. LIPMAN’S APUS POWERPOINT CHAPTER 4

Chesapeak e Colonies in the Seventeenth Century

ØDiseases ravaged the people in the Chesapeake ØLow life expectancy ØThe Chesapeake grew slowly in the 1600 s and mostly from new immigrants from Europe, not natural birth l Most immigrants were single men l BY THE EARLY 1700 S MANY MORE FAMILIES HAD TAKEN HOLD AND ILLNESS BECAME LESS FREQUENT

The Chesapeake good for tobacco but it ruined the soil Settlers moved inland for more new land, thus pushing the Indians further west and causing increased conflicts. As production of tobacco increased, the price dropped, causing farmers to grow more to remain profitable. This increased the need for more labor, and with the price of slaves very high, the need for indentured servants grew.

Ø Indentured servants were white English farmers displaced by the enclosure movement l They voluntarily mortgaged their labor for several years to get a transatlantic passage and “freedom dues” after their time was up (a few barrels of corn, clothing, and possibly a small piece of land) Ø The headright system encouraged indentured servants to come: for every indentured servant who was brought over the master, or payer, would receive 50 acres of land. This led to a rapid expansion of indentured servitude and the need to push settlers further West for more land.

Bacon’s Rebellion Ø In 1676 1, 000 Virginians, most former indentured servants who had moved west to the Piedmont area for available land, rebelled. Led by Nathaniel Bacon l Resented Governor Berkeley’s relations with the Indians and how he monopolized the fur trade with the Indians in the Chesapeake • He also refused to retaliate for Indian attacks on frontier settlements

Nathaniel Bacon

Bacon’s Rebellion l Rebels attacked the Indians l Governor Berkeley was driven from Jamestown and rebels burned the city l Bacon suddenly died of disease l After they lost their leader, Gov. Berkeley crushed the rebellion and 20 rebels were then hung as punishment for their actions.

Ø Rebellion exposed resentment between the frontiersman and the rich gentry on their Tidewater coastal plantations l l The rich planters searched for workers less likely to rebel and this led to large-scale use of African slaves Before this most slaves had been transported to the British West Indies and the Caribbean

The Atlantic Slave Trade before Bacon

In 1619 slaves first introduced in Jamestown Ø By 1670 slavery was still only a small % Ø Reason few slaves were imported is because struggling white colonists could not afford $ for slaves who might die soon after arrival l White indentured servants were far less costly than Africans

Ø During the 1680 s, changes in Europe and America led to African enslavement l Rising wages in England so less people were willing to sell themselves as indentured servants l Large planters were fearful of large numbers of former servants (as demonstrated by Bacon’s Rebellion) l Established planters now had income to spend on slaves

Ø As slaves increased, white colonists acted to put down any possible racial threat l “Slave codes” were adopted, setting strict conditions of slavery • blacks (and their children) became property (“chattels”) for the life of their white masters • Some colonies made it a crime to teach a slave to read or write • Even conversion to Christianity did not qualify a slave for freedom

Ø Slave revolts did occur, but overall there were few of them Ø In 1712 a rebellion in New York occurred in which 12 whites were killed and 21 blacks were executed as revenge. Ø In 1739, the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina occurred l Blacks rebelled and tried to march to Spanish Florida and freedom but were stopped by the white militia

Southern Society At top were rich plantation owners with large tracts of land Ø Second were small landowners who owned one or two slaves (these were the majority of colonists) Ø Third were the poor, non-landowning, nonslave owning whites who worked for other whites Ø Fourth were indentured servants Ø Black slaves were at the lowest level Ø

Southern Society vs. New England Society Ø Southern society revolved around the plantation so few cities developed Ø an urban professional class (like lawyers, bankers) was slow to emerge l Poor roads meant that most transportation was done over waterways

Ø New England enjoyed a much healthier climate than the South l Clean water and cool temperatures stopped the growth of disease l Better transportation system because of better roads and navigable water ways.

Ø New Englanders generally migrated as families l Population grew from natural reproduction l Early marriage and women had children every 2 years until menopause l The typical woman would have 10 children (with 8 surviving past infancy) l Many women died during childbirth and women came to fear pregnancy

Ø Southern women’s rights were more advanced because men frequently died young and there were fewer of them l Women in the South were allowed to keep separate rights to property (from their husbands) and to inherit their husband’s estate Ø New England women gave up property rights upon marriage l l Puritan lawmakers worried about dividing men and women in marriage based on property Widows did have secure rights to property (in contrast with England)

The Scarlet Letter

Life in the New England Towns Ø Towns with over 50 families were required to provide an elementary education Ø 1/2 adults were literate in New England Ø In 1636, Harvard College was established to train local boys for the ministry l The first college (William and Mary) was not established in Virginia until 1693

The Half-Way Covenant and the Salem Witch Trials Ø In the mid 1600 s, religious enthusiasm began to die down: l To combat this, Puritan preachers began using the “jeremiad”, or strong calls to repentance and stronger faith values Ø In 1662 the Half-Way Covenant introduced l l Weakened the purity of the original settlements Eventually, Puritan church was opened to all, purity was sacrificed for wider participation

The Salem Witch trials began in 1692 in Massachusetts : Young girls claimed to be possessed by older women who they claimed were witches In the ensuing “witch hunt”, 20 people were killed, 19 by hanging; 1 by pressing; 2 dogs were also hanged

Causes of Salem reflected the widening of economic classes in New England fear that Puritanism was being corrupted by commercialism Most of the accused witches came from families associated with Salem’s growing market economy in town The accusers came mostly from subsistence farming poor families Key is it is based on economic jealousy

The Geography of Witchcraft: Salem Village, 1692

Ø By 1693, the witchcraft hysteria had ended in Salem l The Massachusetts governor acted (because of accusation against his wife) and prohibited further trials and pardoned convicted witches Ø 20 years later, state legislature annulled the convictions of accused witches and paid reparations to theirs

Ø New England differences with South l l l l Difficult farming because of rocky soil Back-breaking work shaped strong character Less ethnically diverse (immigrants were not attracted to farms or harsh religious life) Climate led to diversified agriculture and industry, instead of relying on a few staple crops Mostly small farms due to geography Because slavery was not profitable on small farms the colonists relied less on slave labor. Used harbors for shipping and commerce, leading to shipbuilding and the use of forests

Ø Most immigrant colonists were middle class l l Upper classes had no reason to leave Europe (“Dukes don’t emigrate”) Poor lacked money to emigrate Ø Colonists tried to prevent class distinctions l l Society much more egalitarian than Europe, especially northern and middle colonies Rebellions of lower classes against upper classes occurred, such as Bacon’s Rebellion, Maryland Protestant rebellion (1676), Leisler’s Rebellion (1689 – 1691) NYC

KEYS TO THE CHAPTER Ø Head right System Ø Bacon’s Rebellion Ø Middle Passage Ø Salem Witch Trials Ø Half-Way Covenant Ø Differences between Northern and Southern colonies