Chapter 02 - The Planting of English America 1500-1733

 

I. Introduction

• By the 1600s, the New World was profoundly altered by Spanish colonization with a changed ecology, disease, conquest and enslavement
• North America was about to be further transformed by Spanish, English and French colonization

II. England’s Imperial Stirrings

• Domestic religious and political conflict meant limited English interest in colonization in the 16th Cent
• Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne (1558) brought stability, and a new rivalry with Catholic Spain, leading to a new interest in imperialism
• Ireland was the first object of English imperialism as the British conquered the “savage” Irish

III. Elizabeth Energizes the England

• New English efforts at expansion – pirates/buccaneers raided Spanish ships and colonies – Francis Drake
• Newfoundland (1583) and Roanoke Island (1585) were two early attempts at settlement – both failed
• Defeat of Spanish Armada by England in 1588 marked the beginning of the end of the Spanish dominance – Sp. began losing its vast empire – too large to manage
• 1588 a “red-letter” date in American history – started England on its way to naval dominance, which in turn secured prosperity for American colonies

IV. England on the Eve of Empire

• Many factors contributed to England’s colonization
  • Large population growth – 3 mill (1550)  4 mill (1600) --- provides people
  • Enclosure of land forced many farmers off the land, looking for a place to be (some turned to Puritanism) --- provides people and motive
  • Primogeniture also left younger sons with a need to find some other avenue to wealth – provides people and motive
  • Joint-stock company allowed several investors (“adventurers”) to pool money for a larger “pot” of capital – provides financial capital
  • Relative peace permitted exploration and colonization without distraction

V. England Plants the Jamestown Seedling

• Virginia Co gets charter to colonize in N. America – investors sought gold and trade routes, viewed as a short term investment
• Charter guarantees to settlers same English rights as if in England
• Jamestown est. May, 1607
• Many settlers suffered from disease and failures to properly prepare/provision the colony
  • By 1610 only 60 of 400 settlers survived
• Lord De La Warr assumed “command” of Virginia in 1610 and developed it into viable colony
  • Still, by 1825 only 1200 of 8000 settler survived

VI. Cultural Clash in the Chesapeake

• Conflict with N. Americans centered on competition for land – desire of colonists for it and desire of Indians to protect it (conflict not based on trade, or labor/enslavement)
• Colonists call for “perpetual war” in 1620s
• First Anglo-Powhatan War (1610-1614) ends in truce; Second Anglo-Powhatan War (1644-1646) ends with British victory – separation of populations
• English initially saw little or no role for Nat. Americans in colonial economy, but rather as a competitor for land and resources

VII. The Indians’ New World

• As in rest of new World, disease wreaked havoc on Native populations and cultures, weakening abilities to effectively cope with colonizers
• Many nations lost their histories, traditional lands and economic foundation tied to land, flexible movement and trade networks
• Inter-tribal competition increased with introduction of European communities – Nat. Americans and Europeans gradually increased trade relations and became an important part of the Atlantic economy
• Inland nations (Algonqians in Grt. Lakes) were able to exploit British and French competition, but not permanently

VIII. Virginia: Child of Tobacco

• Tobacco, initially cultivated by Rolfe became the key economic commodity of colonial Virginia --- created demand for land and helped push settlements upriver and westward (more conflict with Nat. Americans)
• Labor intensive commodity economy
• Enslaved Africans brought in 1619, but enslaved labor was limited until end of 1600s – instead relied on indentured servitude
• House of Burgesses est. 1619 – first representative assembly in America
• Became a Royal Colony in 1624 (James I revoked charter)

IX. Maryland: Catholic Haven

• 4th colony est. 1634 – Lord Baltimore (Catholic) – proprietary
• Small number of large landholders (Catholic) surrounded by small farmers (Protestant)
• Tobacco main crop; indentured servants/small landholders main labor force
• Act of Toleration (1649) meant to protect religious rights of all Christians and Catholic minority. Protections not extended to Jews or atheists
• Representative assembly part of gov’t

X. The West Indies: Way Station to Mainland America

• Spain lost, England gained Caribbean island colonies by mid 1600s
• Economy based on sugar cultivation – required large amounts of land, extended time to properly cultivate a crop, large amount of labor to plant, grow and process for trade – meant large wealth/capital required to invest --- plantation system
• Staple crops imported from other colonies
• Labor needs were met by importation and enslavement of Africans – 250,000 between 1640-1690 – and Nat Americans
• Massive enslavement called for social and legal controls – brutality and “slave codes” that limited the rights African and Afro-Caribbean slaves – Barbados Slave Code. These ideas for controlling enslaved peoples were later brought to American South

XI. Colonizing the Carolinas

• Colonization efforts in America gained ground during the Restoration period (1660s)
• Carolinas developed trade connections with Caribbean colonies, including an Indian slave trade – rice became a key staple crop
• Africans also imported for labor and agricultural skills
• Frequent conflicts with Nat. American and Florida Spanish

XII. The Emergence of North Carolina

• Populated by migrant from Virginia – typically poorer, owning small farms, not a religious community
• Frequent wars with Nat. Americans – drove out Tuscaroras
• Separated from Carolina (So. Carolina) in 1712

XII. Late-Coming Georgia: The Buffer Colony

• Est. in 1733 – much later than other 13 in No. America, population remained small
• Intended to be a haven for debtors/prisoners as well as a buffer to Spanish antagonists from Florida
• Slavery initially outlawed, permitted after 1750

XIV. The Plantation Colonies

• Common traits:
  • Commercial agriculture – tobacco & rice
  • Enslaved labor used
  • Large landholders dominated social structure (less in No Carolina and Georgia)
  • Slow development of cities; spread out sparse populations; few community institutions (schools)
  • Anglican/Episcopalian church dominant religion
  • Expansive – westward penetration