EARLY COLONIES
EQ: What factors influenced the start and development of the early
colonies?
Native American Life at the Time of Contact with Europeans
There were over 30 different tribes in North Carolina at the time Europeans came
They varied in size from tribes of only a few villages to tribes of thousands
The Algonquin Culture Lived along coastal North Carolina
Tribes were held together by a common language
Largest tribes = Pasquotank and Waccamaw
Algonquin Culture Location allowed
for abundant fishing
Ate fruits, melons, walnuts, cucumbers, peas, and roots
Tuscarora Dominated the coastal plain region
The group had about 15 villages with 300 to 500 people in each village
Related to the Iroquois Nation of New York
Catawba Lived along the Catawba river in
a group of towns
They were distinguished by their burnt black pottery
The Cherokee The Cherokee controlled 40,000 sq. mi. of
territory – including parts of Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama
One of the largest tribes in the US (approx. 30,000 members)
Tribal Organization Communities were led by Chiefs Chiefs controlled several towns
(chiefdom)
Tribal Councils – advised the chief
Chiefs served as political, spiritual and military leaders, also distributed food
Belief System No one unified Native American spiritual
belief system
Great respect for nature
Common legends and folklore to explain natural events
English aristocrat and explorerFunded his own voyagesSupported by Queen
Elizabeth I
1584 - Landed at Roanoke Island Made connections with
local Native AmericansDecided to bring settlers
back
Sir Walter Raleigh & the Roanoke Colony
Jamestown and Roanoke colonies
Roanoke Voyages
1585 – 108 soldiers come to Roanoke to establish first colony
1586 – Colonists and Native Americans at “war,” and colony is abandoned
1587 – Second settlement attempted117 colonists come to Roanoke
Governor John White
Roanoke Colony, cont.
1590 – White returns to Roanoke, but finds the colony has disappeared
Roanoke, cont.
• 1587 – John White returns to England to get supplies
1st Permanent English Colony
After the Roanoke Colony failure, the English established their permanent colony at Jamestown in VA
Colony became wealthy due to the sale of tobacco
Jamestown
The “Jamestown” Colony
1606 Virginia House of
Burgesses – 1st Representative Democracy in New World
1st Permanent English Colony
Jamestown Timelinehttp://www.virtualjamestown.org/timeline2.html
1. 1606King James I issues a charter to the Virginia Company for land on the mid-Atlantic Coast
2. 1607• May 13: 104 male settlers arrive
at Jamestown, the first permanent England settlement in the New World
• May 26: Indian attacks• December 10: Capt. John Smith
is captured• December 29: John Smith is
saved by Pocahontas before Powhatan
Jamestown Timelinehttp://www.virtualjamestown.org/timeline2.html
3.1608Settlers at Jamestown die in great numbers (38 of 104 remain)
4. 1609• 500 more
settlers come to Virginia
• Relations with Native Americans grow tense
5. 1610September-May: The “Starving Time” reduces population to 60 (from 500-600)
Jamestown Timelinehttp://www.virtualjamestown.org/timeline2.html
6.1612John Rolfe tries a crop of tobacco to help save the Jamestown settlement
7. 1614John Rolfe marries Pocahontas
8. 1618-1623
The “Great Migration” increases Jamestown’s population from 400 to 4,500
Jamestown Timelinehttp://www.virtualjamestown.org/timeline2.html
9. 1619VA House of Burgesses meets for the first time
Consequences of Jamestown’s Success
While VA grows (NC history to be continued)…
• A new colony to the north will start as well… Plymouth! But why?
Religion in the Colonies
What is religion? Why does religion exist? Where have we seen religion in the colonies so far?
The Anglican Church “Church of
England” Split from
Catholic Church as part of the Protestant Reformation
Henry VIII - Divorce
Church of
England
Hierarchy
Puritans & Pilgrims Desired reforms in
the Church of England
Settled in Massachusetts Bay
Pilgrims desired a split from the Church of England
Very devout
Quakers Society of Friends George Fox – founder
Established numerous congregations 1672 – Fox made a pilgrimage to
“the north of Carolina” Shocked by violence of Puritans
and PilgrimsSalem Witch Trials
Dominated early Carolina
Moravians
Originated in Czech Republic Started as an objection to the
Catholic Church Pacifists – Came to escape war and
religious repression Settled in Winston-Salem
Named the land Wachovia
Moravians – Bethabara, Bethania & Old Salem
Catholics in English Colonies
Fled England due to discrimination of Anglicans
Settle in MarylandCatholics will be the most hated religious group in the 13 colonies until well after the American Revolution. (tell GA story, Mr. Arzillo)
Religious Freedom
Roger Williams Broke away from Plymouth
(for his “dangerous “ ideas, forms Rhode Island Colony
Desired “separation of church and state”
May have been 1st abolitionist in English colonies… forbade any type of slavery and was friendly to natives.
Plymouth Colony Puritans 1620 Massachusetts Mayflower
Compact – direct democracy, social contract
Mayflower Compact, 1620 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 England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour 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 Politick, 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 hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620
Salem Witch Trials
What is a colony? Land Usually has a desired resource Ruled by a country in another location
Mercantilism and the Triangle Trade
What was the purpose of mercantilism?
System used by nations to ensure wealth Examples:
Triangle Trade Navigation Acts Stamp Act Townshend Acts (Lead, Glass, Tea, Paint) Tea Act Molasses Act Sugar Act
Mercantilism Mercantilism is economic nationalism for the
purpose of building a wealthy and powerful state. Seeks to enrich the country by restraining imports
and encouraging exports. Dominated Western European economic thought
and policies from the sixteenth to the late eighteenth centuries.
The goal of these policies was, supposedly, to achieve a “favorable” balance of trade that would bring gold and silver into the country and also to maintain domestic employment.
the mercantile system served the interests of merchants and producers such as the British East India Company, whose activities were protected or encouraged by the state.http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Mercantilism.html
Organization of Colonial Governments
1. Joint Stock Company – self governing colony – operated under shared ownership (like a company) Jamestown (invest capital, enjoy returns)
2. Proprietary Colony – owned by wealthy landlords (PA, MD, DE) and nobles, recognized by king
3. Royal Colony – royal governor appointed by king with elected representative assembly NY, NC
Why did people risk leaving their homeland to come to North America? Economic Opportunity
Cash Crops (sugar, indigo, tobacco, cotton) Indentured Servants (poor English peasants)
Forced African Slaves Plantation System (large farm system) Middle Passage (slave route to Americas)
Religious Freedom
Charter Document granted from English king,
granting sovereignty
Questions: What is sovereignty? What powers are gained through a charter? Why were charters necessary?
King Charles I Colonies of Maryland,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts created under his rule
1628 -- Granted charters to colonize lands south of Virginia, named for himself – Carolina
The Carolina charter, known as the “Heath Patent” granted to Sir Robert Heath
King Charles II
Due to lack of population, Charles II sold Heath Patent to the “8 Lord Proprietors”
Proprietor = owner Promoted
populating the colony through profit incentive
The 13 Colonies
What do they have in common? Self Government Legislatures
w/elected members
Governor (elected or appointed by king)
Salutary neglect- King not enforcing strict laws