The First English Colonies Jamestown VA 1607 Two

The First English Colonies

Jamestown, VA 1607 Two previous attempts, of which one is the infamous Roanoke, NC Croatoan Project of the Virginia Co. Hoped to find gold in the region Joint Stock company More jewelers than farmers, leading to starvation of >1/2 of colonists in 1 st year Additional 400 arrived By the end of winter in 1610, “The Starving Time, ” only 65 survived.

The Headright System Due to the high death rate in the New World, no one wanted to settle. Virginia Co. offered 50 acres of land for each person that a settler paid to bring over. Creation of large estates, populated by and worked on by indentured servants. 7 -10 years until freedom dues First shipment of African slaves arrived in 1619 Virginia was producing more than 100 tons of tobacco by 1624 Over 15, 000 tons by 1680.

Impact on Society Roughly three-quarters of settlers were servants. Created a microcosm with elite English landowners overseeing masses of laborers. Males outnumbered females at a 5: 1 ratio Most of the women were indentured servants who could not marry until they earned their free dues Delayed marriage = less children = even less women. Due to the high rate of mortality among men, a higher than normal proportion of women were landowners.

A change in Leadership Virginia Company failed to return a steady profit In 1624 King James took the Virginia Company’s charter, and appointed Virginia a royal colony. Now led by a royal Governor and a legislative body, known as the House of Burgesses *The representatives were known as Burgesses, thus the name.

Bacon’s Rebellion Clashes between Native Americans and colonials seeking new land Nathaniel Bacon raised an army to fight them in 1676 Governor William Berkley declared him a rebel and raised an army of his own Bacon defeated Berkley and burned Jamestown, briefly controlling the majority of Virginia Bacon died soon after, likely from disease, causing an end to his rebellion.

Maryland 1632 The second Chesapeake colony Proprietorship: A large land grant to Cecilius Calvert

Plymouth, Massachusetts Pilgrims vs Puritans were super Protestants, calling themselves Congregationalists. Congregation should determine leadership structures rather than Bishops. Pilgrims wanted total separation from the church. Intended to settle Virginia, but were blown off course and ended up in Plymouth Massachusetts. Mayflower Compact Follow “Just and equal” laws Signed by 41 of the 150 colonists First written example for government in the U. S.

Thanksgiving! Made landfall just 6 weeks before winter Brought little food and literally no farm animals Half of the colonists died before the end of winter. Pawtuxet Native Americans, led by Squanto, gave them food to survive the winter. Taught colonists how to plant corn, catch fish, and generally not die. Thanksgiving occurred on the 4 th Thursday in November Pawtuxet tribe and Squanto died from disease In 1691 the Plymouth colony was absorbed by the Massachusetts Bay colony

Massachusetts Bay Colony Chartered in 1679 by London Merchants Board of directors relocated to America, giving them a much greater degree of autonomy than in Virginia Social Unity was much more important than in VA Puritan religious mission put the common good above that of the individual i. e. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few The only people who could vote or hold office were church members To be a full church member you had to be a “visible saint” This kept power in the hands of the church elite

Puritans Despite the focus on social unity, inequality was still very present Separate rights for freemen, women, children, servants, and. City Upon a Hill A model of Christian charity by John Winthrop First slaves recorded in the colony in 1640 Mandated literacy so as to read the bible

Banishment Roger Williams called for freedom of religion Went on to found Rhode Island Anne Hutchinson Argued that church membership should be based on inner grace rather than church attendance Further banished to Westchester NY She and her family were later killed by Native Americans

Take Away America was not just founded by English settlers, but also by Spaniards, Native Americans, and more. Early American colonies had little to do with religious freedom, and far more to do with money. One of the many instances in which American mythology and American history contradict one another.