Note TakingThe Cornell Method
Other methods
•Outlining
•Mapping
•Charting
•Sentence writing
American BeginningsAmerican Beginnings
The First Americans
• The original discovery and settlement of America occurred possibly 40,000 years before Columbus set sail
• European discovery and settlement of the Americas began a process of globalization with historic consequences
Pre-Columbian AmericaPre-Columbian America• Cultures of the
Americas were mostly small settlements
• Central American cultures more sophisticated (agricultural societies)
• Exploration triggered by technology, religion, trade and strong nation-states
Early Exploration & ConquestEarly Exploration & Conquest
• Columbus sailed in October of 1492 (reached San Salvador)
• Treaty of Tordesillas established by the Pope in 1493 (divide discoveries)
• Spaniards searched for gold
• Spaniards conquered the Native Americans and incorporated a rigid social structure
English Exploration & English Exploration & ColonizationColonization
• Defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 opened the seas for England
• John Cabot, Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh explored & settled the Atlantic Coast of North America
• First Colonies struggled for survival
• Jamestown survived and thrived due to the cultivation of tobacco
Early English Early English SettlementsSettlements
• Virginia established by a joint-stock company (Roanoke 1588, Jamestown 1607)
• Plymouth established by Separatists seeking religious freedom (their survival was ensured by local Indians)
• Massachusetts Bay Colony was established by Puritans fleeing persecution by King Charles
Early Political InstitutionsEarly Political Institutions
• Majority Rule (Mayflower Compact, 1620)
• Representative Government (Virginia House of Burgesses, 1620)
• Limitations on democracy (voting restrictions favored land-owning males)
Important Documents
• Mayflower Compact – an early form of representative government and a rudimentary constitution
• The Letters of Columbus to Queen Isabella – first European observations of the Americas that shows the general attitude toward Native American culture.
The English Colonies• 13 Colonies established
along the Atlantic Coast beginning in 1607
• Three types of colonial charters – corporate, royal and proprietary
• English settlers brought independent traditions of government to the colonies and eventually created a separate distinct identity
Chesapeake ColoniesChesapeake Colonies• Religious tolerance and
labor shortages were key issues
• Maryland developed first as a haven for Catholics became more like Virginia
• Tobacco farmers in conflict with Native Americans established the head-right system (to lure workers)
New England• Development based on the efforts of the
Puritans• Roger Williams established Rhode Island
as a haven for dissenters (sewer colony)• Connecticut established by disgruntled
Puritans• New Hampshire broken away from Mass.
By King Charles for political reasons• Half-Way covenant weakened the Puritan
Church
Restoration ColoniesRestoration Colonies• Established after the English
Civil War (1660’s)• Carolinas granted to 8 Nobles by
King Charles (divided in 1729)• New York taken from the Dutch
(1664)• New Jersey broken off from NY
by King James (1664)• Pennsylvania established by
William Penn (Quaker haven)• Delaware created by Penn (1702) King Charles I
The Last ColonyThe Last Colony• Georgia Established in
1732• Received direct support
from the King• James Oglethorpe wanted
a haven for debtors• Served as a buffer against
Spanish invasion• Original prohibition of
slavery
Colonial EconomicsColonial Economics• Mercantilism was practiced by most
European Nations to maximize colonial profits
• Mercantilism had positive and negative effects on Colonial economies
• Enforcement of Mercantilist laws eventually led to resentment & resistance
• Slavery established as a solution to labor shortages
• Triangular trade increased the profitability of slavery
Important Documents• The New England
Confederation of 1643- early attempt at colonial unity (dissolved in 1684)
• The Penn Plan of Union & Albany Plan of Union – both attempted to create cooperation among the colonies
Colonial Society
• The English Colonies developed into a unique society by the mid-1700’s
• Population Increased & diversified, religion brought social changes
• Government & communication influenced the growing independence movement
“Old” Immigration
• Increased greatly after 1700
• Diversity of Europeans & Africans
• Came for various reasons
English Domination• English culture dominated (language, English culture dominated (language,
religion, traditions)religion, traditions)• Self-government, religious toleration, non-Self-government, religious toleration, non-
hereditary aristocracy and social mobility hereditary aristocracy and social mobility fixed in societyfixed in society
• The colonial family was the economic and The colonial family was the economic and social centersocial center
• White wealth helped a few men dominate White wealth helped a few men dominate societysociety
Colonial Economics
• Developed around trade and farming (Mercantilism)
• Logging, ship-building, fishing and trade dominated New England
• Large productive farms and small manufacturing in the Middle Colonies
• South depended heavily on agriculture with a feudal social structure
Colonial ReligionColonial Religion
• Dominated by Protestantism (Anglicans & Congregationalists)
• Great Awakening started in 1730’s, influenced independent thinking and Colonial unity
• Jonathan Edwards & George Whitefield best known preachers (pre-destination)
Colonial Achievements
• Architecture, printing, literature and science
• Education played a limited role (privileged culture)
• Professionals gradually increased their prestige (doctors, lawyers)
• The press helped circulate new ideas and information
Important Documents• The sermon on Loyalty
and Freedom by Jonathan Mayhew that provided a rational for airing grievances with the government
• John Locke’s Treatise on Government helped cement the idea of government by consent of the people.
The Road to RevolutionThe Road to Revolution
• British colonial policy British colonial policy began to change began to change dramaticallydramatically
• More aggressive tax More aggressive tax collection and trade collection and trade law enforcementlaw enforcement
• Colonists began to Colonists began to rebel against the rebel against the Royal assertion of Royal assertion of powerpower
Colonial Wars
• Wars between colonial powers broke Wars between colonial powers broke out in the 17out in the 17thth century (1689-1763) century (1689-1763)
• Wars took on a global scope (Europe, Wars took on a global scope (Europe, India and America)India and America)
• King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War King George’s War, and the War of King George’s War, and the War of Jenkins Ear (all prior to 1754)Jenkins Ear (all prior to 1754)
The French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War• Fought between France, Great
Britain and Indian allies 1754-1763
• Battled for control of the Ohio River Valley (Washington helped start it)
• British did poorly at first but committed more troops and money and eventually won
• British attained unchallenged North American superiority and naval power
Colonial ControlColonial Control
• Salutary Neglect (loose enforcement of trade laws) abandoned in favor of stronger control
• Pontiac’s Rebellion led to the creation of the Proclamation Line of 1763 (angered land-hungry colonists)
Actions and Reactions• The Sugar Act, Quartering Act,
Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Acts & Intolerable Acts all met with colonial resentment and defiance (attempts at paying off debt)
• Parliament repealed most of the laws but each fueled the argument for liberty (propaganda)
Boston Massacre, 1770
Boston Tea Party, 1773
Burning of the HMS Gaspee, 1772
Revolutionary Foundations• Ideas of the
Enlightenment (consent of the governed, natural rights)
• Religious ideas (divine intervention, Deism)
• Rationalism and Humanism
Important Documents• Stamp Act Congress
Resolutions (1765) – emphasized strong belief in consent of the governed
• Thomas Paine’s Common Sense -became a widely read argument for declaring independence and justifying a revolt