Chapter 4The English Colonies

(1605 – 1735)

The Virginia Colony

Section 1

Settlement in Jamestown Investors formed joint-stock company – London Company –

to settle VirginiaApril 26, 1607 – 3 ships arrived off Virginia coast; 105 male

colonistsJamestown – named after English KingMen poorly prepared to start settlement; most

adventurers interested in making their fortune by searching for gold. Very few had farming experience Poor site for settlement; surrounded by marshes; water too salty

to drink By the time winter arrived, 2/3 of colonists had died; the few

survivors = hungry and sickCaptain John Smith took control in September 1608 –

forced settlers to work and build better housing – biggest contribution was strong leadership

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Location_of_jamestown_virginia.jpg

The Powhatan ConfederacyPowhatan Confederacy – alliance of Algonquian Indians;

brought food to colonists; taught them to grow cornNot always peaceful; sometimes colonists took food by force1609 – approx. 400 more settlers arrived in Jamestown; John

Smith had to leave due to injuryWinter, disease and famine hit again. Call this period

“starving time;” by spring of 1610 only 60 colonists still alive – John Rolfe helped Virginia grow stronger

Important changes: John Rolfe introduced West Indian variety of tobacco – grew

well in Virginia; made a lot of money – colony began to thrive Land ownership shifted from London Company to individuals;

possibility of owning land attracted new settlers

War in VirginiaJohn Rolfe married Pocahontas – Powhatan leader’s

daughter; helped colony form more peaceful relations with Powhatan

Pocahontas died in 1617; father died the next year; colonists no longer relied on Powhatan for food

Colonists wanted to grow tobacco on Indian lands; as the colony grew, so did conflict

1622 colonists killed a Powhatan leader; Powhatan attacked settlers killing hundreds; settlers then burned Indian villages – fighting continued approx. 20 years

War showed Virginia that London Company could not help its colonists Short on supplies; company did not send military support

English Crown cancelled London Company’s charter – Virginia became a royal colony under governor chosen by king

Daily Life in VirginiaLived on scattered farms rather than townsTobacco plantations formed – made possible

in part by use of the headright system colonists who paid their own way to Virginia

received 50 acres of land – could earn 50 acres for each additional person brought from England

Raising a family difficult-diseaseMen outnumbered women 7 to 1-promises of

marriageNo schools and few churches

Labor in VirginiaIndentured servants – signed a contract

to work for 4 – 7 years for those who paid their ship fare to Americaapprox. 75% of early colonists arrived as

indentured servantsLiving conditions were poor, sickness was

common; many died before term endedThose who survived gained freedom and could

claim land

Labor in Virginia (continued)Africans

First brought by Dutch in 1619Some were indentured servants – worked and

lived with white indentured servants; some became successful farmers at end of contracts

Enslaved – became more common as demand for indentured servants greater than the supply and as prices fellPlanters – wealthy farmers with large plantationsBy late 1600s most Africans in Virginia were being

kept in lifelong slaveryHelped some tobacco plantation owners become

rich

Bacon’s RebellionMid-1600s many colonists grew increasingly unhappy

with conditionsHigher taxes and lack of available farmland

Began farming land belonging to Natives – broke treaties between government and local American Indians

Bacon’s Rebellion – former indentured servants led by Nathaniel Bacon – wealthy frontier planter and relative of the governorAttacked and burned JamestownAt one point, he controlled much of the colony; he died, the

rebellion ended, and 23 of the remaining rebels were hangedDifficult to make peace with Native Americans; fear of

future uprisings by former indentured servants made many planters rely more on slavery

United Streaming Video

The House of Burgesses was the name given to the first elected legislative assembly in the New World. The House of Burgesses, over time, came to represent the official legislative body of the colony of Virginia, and later, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Virginia House of Burgesses was formed initially as part of a series of government reforms at Jamestown colony. Owned by the Virginia Company of London, the Jamestown colony only had around 1,000 colonists by 1619, so the Virginia Company made changes that the company hoped would make the colony more profitable. The Virginia Company established English Common Law, encouraged private investment from Jamestown settlers which allowed them to own their own land rather than simply being sharecroppers, and the creation of a legislative body similar to the British Parliament that would meet once annually.

Prompted by the Virginia Company, colonial governor Sir George Yeardley helped facilitate elections of representatives, or burgesses, to this new legislative body that would come from eleven Virginia boroughs adjacent to the James River, along with eleven additional burgesses.

The first meeting of the House of Burgesses occurred on July 30, 1619 at Jamestown, Virginia. The House of Burgesses became the first legislative body in the New World and ultimately became the foundation for self-government in the American Colonies and, eventually, the United States of America.

Chapter 4The English Colonies

(1605 – 1735)

The Pilgrims’ Experience

Section 2

The Story Continues…

England’s King James I held a conference in 1604 to meet with Protestant leaders.

They wanted to reform the Church of England. The leaders criticized the power held by Anglican

bishops. As they talked, the king grew restless.Finally, he interrupted one of the reformers and began

shouting furiously. “While I am in England I will have bishops to govern the church.”

The king had plans for those who asked for reform too. James stated, “I will make them conform themselves

[become Anglicans] or I will drive them out of this land!

Puritans and PilgrimsPuritans – wanted to reform, or purify, the

Church of EnglandBishops and priests had too much power over church

membersThe Bible was the most reliable source of authorityMost extreme sect wanted to separate from the Church of

EnglandSeparatists founded their own churches and cut all

ties with the Church of England; punished by English leaders

Pilgrims – separatists who left England in 1608 and moved to the Netherlands because of persecution by English authoritiesPilgrims happy to be able to practice faith but not

happy that children were learning Dutch language and culture; feared they would forget English traditions

Formed joint-stock company and returned to England to apply for permission to settle in Virginia

The Founding of Plymouth

Mayflower left England Sept. 16, 1620 with more than 100 men, women and childrennot all were Pilgrims, but Pilgrim leaders were in charge –

William Bradford-Leader Plymouth

Landed far north of present-day Virginia; Plymouth Rock – present-day MassachusettsRealized they were outside of boundaries of English charterdecided to establish basic laws and social rules to govern their

colonyMayflower Compact –

social covenant or contract between members of society; set out rules by which Pilgrims agreed to govern themselves

one of first attempts at self-government in the English colonies

Actual Transcription:  William Bradford's "Of Plimoth Plantation." In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord King James by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, & Ireland king, defender of ye faith, &c. Haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick; for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof, to enacte, constitute, and frame shuch just & equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie:  unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.  In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye .11. of November, in ye year of the raigne of our soveraigne lord King James of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom .1620.

Contemporary Transcription: IN THE name of God, Amen.We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the 11 of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domine 1620.

Pilgrims and American IndiansMost of the local American Indians killed by

diseases brought by previous European visitors (fishermen)

Occasionally came across deserted villages and empty cornfieldsUsed empty fields to plant their crops

According to Bradford in March 1621, an American Indian walked into the settlement and spoke EnglishSamoset of a Pemaquid tribe; introduced them to Squanto

– had lived in Europe and spoke EnglishTaught them to fertilize the soil with fish remains

First Thanksgiving – Pilgrims and Wampanoag

The Pilgrim CommunityAt first tried farming but land around settlement

was poor; fishing and hunting conditions not good

Not wealthy enough to form strong communityDifferent from Virginia in that families were

commonMost hoped to have many children (needed to help work)

Taught children to read and offered some education to indentured servants

Family served as center of religious life, health care and community well-being

Women cooked, spun and wove wool, sewed clothing; made butter and soap, carried water, dried fruit, cared for livestock

Men repaired tools, worked in fields, chopped wood and built shelters

The Pilgrim Community (continued)

In Plymouth, women had more legal rights than they did in Englandhad the right to sign contracts and bring certain

cases before local courtsWidows could own propertyMarried and widowed women could get licenses to

run inns and to sell liquor

Chapter 4The English Colonies

(1605 – 1735)

The New England ColoniesSection 3

The Massachusetts Bay Colony

Charles I became king in 1625Raised taxes during period of economic downturn

Church of England began punishing Puritans because they were dissentersCharles I refused to allow Puritans to criticize church

actions

Great Migration – 10 year period in which tens of thousands of men, women and children left England; because of economic, political and religious problemsMore than 40,000 to Caribbean and New England

The Massachusetts Bay Colony (continued)

King Charles I had granted a charter to Puritans to establish a colony in New England – they formed the Massachusetts Bay Company

Hoped to have freedom to practice their religion freelyJohn Winthrop wrote speech about their goals –

reflected belief that they had made a covenant with God – agreed to build and ideal Christian community

Well prepared to start colony – people were neither wealthy or poor, but brought tools, livestock; trade with Plymouth helped

Established towns of Salem, Mystic, Newton, Watertown, and Dorchester; Puritans built Boston – chief city and capital of Massachusetts Bay

New Hampshire became a royal colony in 1679

Church and State in New EnglandMassachusetts subject to English laws

Company charter provided more independence than the royal charter of VirginiaCreated a General Court to help run the colony – type of self-

governmentJohn Winthrop was the first governor of MassachusettsGeneral Court became a two-house (bi-cameral)

legislature in 1644 – main political body of New England (Massachusetts)

Politics and religion were closely linkedGovernment leaders were church membersMale church members were the only colonists who

could voteCould only become full members in the church by become

what Puritans called God’s “elect” or chosen

Church and State in New England (continued)

Thomas Hooker (minister) and his followers left Massachusetts to help found ConnecticutHelped draft the Fundamental Orders of

Connecticut – set of principles that made Connecticut’s government more democratic

Some have called Hooker “the father of American democracy”

Daily Life and Customs

Lives centered around religion, family duties, and public work

Sundays – 2 sermons; brought all members of community together

Community life more stable than in VirginiaColonists in Virginia were either wealthy or poorPeople who came to New England were more middle

income; skilled workers or experienced farmers; some had success with fishing or fur trading

Grew food mainly for own use; little need for indentured servants or slaves

Daily Life and Customs (continued)

Most came in family groupsParents helped choose children’s marriage

partnersWomen had three main duties to fulfill in

marriage – obey husband, have children and run the household

Education was important; wanted children to be able to read the Bible

Massachusetts Bay Colony passed some of the first law requiring parents to provide educationLiteracy much lower in Virginia

Dissent in Massachusetts

Roger Williams did not agree with the leadership of MassachusettsCalled for his church to separate completelyCriticize General Court for taking land from American

Indians without paying

Took his supporters to southern New England and formed Providence – later became the colony of Rhode Island

In Providence, Williams supported separation of the church from politics and promoted religious tolerance; wanted to deal with American Indians fairly

Dissent in Massachusetts (continued)Anne Hutchinson (Boston) angered Puritan

church leaders by discussing religious ideas believed to be radicalBelieved God speaks directly to people apart from the

Bible

Important community members met at her home for religious discussions

John Winthrop (Puritan leader) alarmed by her ideasShe was put on trial and forced out of the colonyShe and followers settled the new colony of Portsmouth

(Rhode Island)

The Salem Witch Trials

Worst community conflicts in New England were the witchcraft trials (early 1690s)

Largest number held in Salem, MassachusettsGirls accused people of casting spells on them

– mostly womenCourt often pressured the suspected

witches to confess19 people put to death

Chapter 4The English Colonies

(1605 – 1735)

The Southern and Middle Colonies

Section 4

Tolerant MarylandEnglish Catholics faced persecution in England because

of their sympathies with foreign powers and their opposition to England’s separation from the Roman Catholic Church – not allowed to worship freely

Lord Baltimore (Cecilius Calvert) given charter to start Maryland as refuge for English Catholics; named in honor of England’s queen Henrietta Maria

Proprietary colony – owners controlled the governmentSpent time raising corn, cattle and hogsLike Virginia in that most settlers were men who raised

tobacco for profitProtestants began moving to Maryland causing religious

conflictsToleration Act of 1649 – made restricting the religious

rights of Christians a crime; one of the first laws supporting religious tolerance in the English colonies

The Carolinas

Started 1663 by 8 proprietors who supported Charles II during the English Civil War; originally one colony

Carolina – latin form of the name CharlesNorth and South Carolina became separate

colonies because settlements widely divided, making it hard to govern them all

North Carolina – poor farmers who moved south from VirginiaFew plantationsNo towns and few churches until early 1700s

The Carolinas (continued)

South CarolinaPort of Charles Town – CharlestonAttracted many settlers from other English colonies

(particularly from British West Indies) – brought enslaved Africans with them (led them to rely on)

Rice production – required many workersOnly mainland colony with a higher population of

enslaved Africans than free whites

Colonists unhappy with proprietors’ management of Carolinas – both became royal colonies

Diversity in New York and New Jersey

New Amsterdam – center of fur trade in New NetherlandGenerous land grants and religious tolerance attracted

Jews, French Huguenots, Puritans and othersPeter Stuyvesant took control in 1647 – experienced soldier

ruled colony as dictatorEnglish took control of New Netherland and renamed it

New York (first of the middle colonies)Dutch settlers remained in colony; contributed words such

as boss, cookie and stoop to the English languageDuke of York made Carteret and John Lord Berkeley

proprietors of New Jersey – diverse population (Dutch, Swedes, Finns and Scots)

New York and New Jersey produced large amounts of wheat

The Pennsylvania ExperimentQuakers (Society of Friends) – one of the largest

religious groups in New Jersey – Protestant sect founded by George Fox in England Believed all people had an “inner light” that could help them

experience God Rejected formal religious practices and dressed plainly Supported nonviolence and religious tolerance

William Penn founded Pennsylvania (west of New Jersey) – provide safe home for Quakers Tried to create a government that was fair to all people Sold land to colonists at low prices, promised religious freedom to all

Christians Government would care for the poor

Penn named the capital of his colony Philadelphia or the City of Brotherly Love; became a model for city planners in other colonies

Delaware sold to Penn; remained part of Pennsylvania until 1776

The Ideal of GeorgiaJames Oglethorpe received permission to

start a colony (Georgia) for poor English citizens; among the group were people who had been jailed for unpaid debts

King hoped Georgia would serve as a shield between South Carolina and Spanish Florida

City of Savannah founded in 1733Oglethorpe wanted Georgia to be different; hoped

it would draw attract small farmers and avoid the rise of a class of wealthy plantersHe outlawed slavery and limited the size of land grantsGave poor colonists free passage to Georgia

Received cattle, land and food until they could provide their ownSettlers grew tired of strict rules (wanted slavery and

larger farms)Became royal colony with new laws