2. I. PEOPLING THE
AMERICAS
I. The Land Bridge theory.
1. End of Ice Age diminished glaciers over North
America.
2. Land Bridge emerged linking Asia & NA across
Bering Sea.
3. People walked across the "bridge" before the sea
level rose
4. The Land Bridge occurred around 35,000 years
ago.
II. Many peoples
A. Groups spread across North, Central, and South
America.
B. Tribes emerged with an estimated 2,000
languages. Notably:
1. Incas: Peru, with elaborate network of roads
and bridges linking their empire.
2. Mayas: Yucatan Peninsula, with their step
pyramids.
3. Aztecs: Mexico, with step pyramids and huge
sacrifices of conquered peoples.
3. II. EARLIEST AMERICANS
Development of corn or maize
around 5,000 B.C. in Mexico was
revolutionary in that:
Didn't have to be hunter-
gatherers, could settle down
and be farmers.
Began to establish permanent
settlements
1. No large concentration of pop. Like
in SA or Mesoamerica
2. Scattered pop. allowed Europeans
to defeat Native Americans easier
Corn arrived in the present day U.S.
around 1,200 B.C. from
Mesoamerica
4. II. Earliest Americans
Native Americans had different view of things as
compared to Europeans.
A.Native Americans-no man owned the land, the tribe did.
(Europeans- private property)
B.Indians- nature was mixed with many spirits. (Europeans-
Christian and monotheistic)
C.Indians- nature was sacred. (Europeans- nature and land
to be subdued and put to use).
D.Indians- little or no concept or interest in money.
(Europeans- loved money or gold)
5. V. Columbus Comes upon a New
World
I. The 1st Europeans to come to America were the
Norse (Vikings fromNorway).
1. 1000 AD, the Vikings landed in Newfoundland
(L’Anse aux Meadows)
2. No strong nation- state to support other voyages,
settlements abandoned
Columbus
I. Convinced King and Queen of Spain to
finance expedition to bypass Africa
route to Asia
II. 1492 “discovers” America
Voyage eventually leads to the beginnings of
a global system
Europe would provide the market, capital,
technology.
Africa would provide the labor.
The New World would provide the raw
materials (gold, soil, lumber).
6. V. Columbus Comes upon a
New World
I. Causes biological flip-flop of Old and New Worlds.
traded plants, foods, animals, germs
II. Columbian Exchange:
Fromthe New World (America) to the Old
corn, potatoes, tobacco, beans, peppers, manioc, pumpkin, squash,
tomato, wild rice, etc. also, syphilis
Fromthe Old World to the New
cows, pigs, horses, wheat, sugar cane, apples, cabbage, citrus,
carrots, Kentucky bluegrass, etc.
devastating diseases (smallpox, yellow fever, malaria), as Indians
had no immunities.
The Indians had no immunities in their systems built up over
generations.
An estimated 90% of all pre-Columbus Indians died, mostly due to
disease.
7. VII. The Spanish Conquistadores
I. Spain secured claim to Americas from Treaty of
Tordesillas (1494)
II. 1500’s dominant explorers/ colonizers of Americas
III. Conquistadores explored and conquered much of N and
S America
I. Led to a flood of silver from SA, Mexico caused inflation in
Europe
A. Led to rise of capitalism and commercial banking, paid for
international trade
II. Encomienda system established
A. Indians "commended“ or given to Spanish landlords
B. The idea was that Indians would work and be
converted to Christianity, but it was basically just slavery
on a sugar plantation guised as missionary work.
8. IX. The Spread of Spanish America
I. Spain’s empire grew quickly
II. Threats from other European
powers- English, French
III. Spanish set up forts (presidios) to
protect borders- from Florida to
California
IV. Rebellions in New Mexico against
Spanish (Pope’s Rebellion 1680)
V. BlackLegend: The Black Legend
was the notion that Spaniards only
brought bad things (murder,
disease, slavery); though true,
they also brought good things
such as law systems, architecture,
Christianity, language, civilization,
so that the Black Legend is partly,
but not entirely, accurate.
9. French, Spanish and English
Settlers
Each co untry had diffe re nt m o tive s and se ttle m e nt patte rns
French- friendly relations with Indians (comparatively),
tried to convert Natives to Christianity, came in small
numbers, extractive economic activity (fur trade), explored
deep into continent, Catholic, had economic motives
Spanish- came to conquer (conquistador), looked for and
found precious minerals, tried to convert Indians, blended
their culture with Native culture, explored deep into
continent to look for wealth, Catholic
English- came in larger groups (especially NE), settled and
“improved” land, more religiously tolerant, wiped out Indian
culture, established their own “footprint”, did not explore
deep into continent, mostly Protestant
10. France Finds a Foothold in
Canada
Latecomer to colonizing New World
Louis XIV took interest in colonial
expansion
First successful colony Quebec 1609
Samuel de Champlain explore, solider,
leader early French colonial efforts
Colony known as New France
Problems with Iroquois hampered
French conquest of Ohio River Valley
French colonies autocratic, no
representative assemblies, no right to
fair trail
Favored Caribbean colonies because
of sugar trade
11. New France Fans Out
Most valuable resource in New
France- beaver fur
Fur trappers (voyageurs) trapped
beaver, recruited Indians into fur
business
Traveled deep into wilderness,
created ecological disaster by
eliminating most of beaver population
French Missionaries attempted to
“Christianize” Indians
Voyageurs, missionaries vital role as
explorers, geographers
12. II. New France Fans Out
French try to block British and Spanish
expansion
Detroit (1701), keep out British
LaSalle claims Mississippi River Valley for
France (Louisiana)
French fortify posts along river to keep out
Spanish, protect beaver trade
Establish New Orleans (1718) to keep fur and
grain flowing to mother country, keep MS
River from Spanish
14. I. ELIZABETHENERGIZES
ENGLAND
Within 100 years of Columbus landing Americas radically
transformed
1600 most of North America unclaimed, unexplored
In the 1500s, Britain failed to effectively colonize due
to internal conflicts.
Elizabeth I became queen, Britain became basically
Protestant, rivalry with Catholic Spain intensified.
Late 1500’s English attack Spanish ships for gold
(Sir Francis Drake)
First English attempts at colonization (Newfoundland
1583, Roanoke 1585) failed
1588 English defeat Spanish Armada
Allows English to cross North Atlantic
Victory gives English reason for
exploration/settlement
15. II. England on the Eve of the
Empire
Reasons for English colonization of the Americas
A. 1500’s growing population
B. New enclosure laws – less land for poor
C. Wool industry collapsed
D. Population became mobile (looking for jobs)
E. Tradition of primogeniture = 1st born son inherits
ALL father’s land. Younger sons tried their luck with fortunes elsewhere,
like America.
F. Unity under a popular monarch
Early1600s, joint-stockcompanyperfected (investors put money into the
company with hopes for a good return), provided financing for colonization
Joint-stock companies usually did not exist long, stockholders invested to
make a profit, then quickly sell for profit a few years later
Charter gave settlers same rights as Englishmen
Joint Stock Company (VirginiaCompany) given charter by King James I to
settle in New World
16. III. England Plants the Jamestown
Seedling
On May 24, 1607, about 100 English
settlers disembarked from their ship and
founded Jamestown.
Problems included:
(a) the swampy site of Jamestown, poor drinking
water, mosquitoes caused malaria and yellow
fever.
(b) men wasted time looking for gold rather than
doing useful tasks (digging wells, building
shelter, planting crops),
(c) zero women on the initial ship.
1608 Captain John Smith took over control and
whipped the colonists into shape, gave order and
discipline, highlighted by his “no work, no food” policy.
Colonists had to eat cats, dogs, rats, even other
people. One fellow wrote of eating “powdered wife.”
1610 a relief party headed by Lord De La Warr arrived
to alleviate the suffering.
1625 out of an original overall total of 8,000 would-be
settlers, only 1,200 had survived.
17. IV. Culture Clash in the New
World
At first English seen potential allies, relations grew worse
when English began to raid Indian food supplies
De La Warr began “total war” against Indians
Early 1600’s clashes decimated Indians pushed them
westward, removed them from ancestral lands
European colonization disrupted way of life
Disease took out population
Trade intensified competition among tribes
Tribes along Atlantic seaboard felt effects the most
When colonists could grow their own food they had
little use for Indians, Europeans wanted their land
18. V. Virginia Child of Tobacco
Tobacco savior of Virginia Colony
cash crop- Jamestown had
found its gold.
Tobacco created a greed for
land- heavily depleted the soil
and ruined the land.
Representative self-government in
Virginia
1619 settlers created the House of
Burgesses, a committee to work out
local issues. This set Americaona
pathwayto self-rule
1619 first Africans sold as slaves
19. VI. Maryland: Catholic
Haven
I. 1634 founded by Lord Baltimore as Catholic
refuge (from Protestant English)
II. Second plantation colony
III. Huge estates given to Catholic families,
poorer, Protestants settled there also, created
friction between two groups
IV. Tobacco main crop, labor source was
indentured servants (slaves came in late
1600’s)
V. Religious toleration
A. Permitted freedom of worship to all Christians
B. 1649- Act of Toleration, guaranteed religious
toleration to all Christians, but decreed the
death penalty to Jews, atheists, others who
didn’t believe in the divinity of Jesus
C. More Catholics in Maryland than any English
speaking colony in the New World
20. VII. The West Indies Way Station
to Mainland America
I. Decline of Spanish power led British to secure Caribbean Islands
II. Sugar main crop
• Labor intensive, capital intensive
• Needed to be wealthy to start plantation
• Caused large numbers of slaves to be imported
III. SlaveCodes established in West Indies
• 1700 slaves outnumber settlers 4:1
• defined the legal status of slaves and the rights of the masters.
They were typically strict and exacted severe punishments for
offenders.
IV. Sugar plantation system caused islands to depend on American
colonies for food, basic supplies
• Smaller farmers left islands and settled in southern colonies
V. 1670 group arrives in Carolina, brings slaves from Barbados
• Slave codes adopted in Carolina 1696
• Slave codes became model for statutes governing slavery across
colonies
21. IX. Colonizing the Carolinas
Developed close economic ties
with “sugar islands”
Many immigrated from region ,
brought slave trade with them
Rice major export crop
African slaves had knowledge to
grow rice
Slaves had natural immunity to
malaria
Ideal laborers for rice plantations
By 1710 majority of people in
Carolinas were African slaves
Charles Town major seaport
Diverse tolerant community
Attracted French Protestant refugees
Caused friction with Spain
22. IX. Emergence of North
Carolina
Wild northern expanse of Carolina
Settled more slowly because lack of
good harbors
Attracted outcasts and religious
dissenters
Raised tobacco and other crops on small
farms, little need for slaves (few large
plantations)
Distinctive traits: irreligious, hospitable
to pirates, spirit of resistance to authority,
, democratic, independent minded, least
aristocratic of 13 colonies
1712 separated from S.C.
23. X. Late Coming Georgia: The Buffer
Colony
1733-Last colony to be “planted”
Savannah major port
Founded by prison reform group,
major leader James Oglethorpe
Debtors from England sent there
Established as buffer between
English, Spanish
Only colony to receive money
from English government
Diverse communities
Religious toleration for all except
Catholics
Least populous colony
Restrictive slavery laws
24. Plantation Colonies
Agriculture export based
economies
Slavery in all colonies
Small group owned most of
the land
Rural population made it
hard to establish towns,
schools and churches
Religiously tolerant
26. Overview
Established different patterns of settlement
than plantation/southern colonies
Different economies than plantation/southern
colonies
Different set of values than plantation/southern
colonies
Distinctive regional characteristics began to
develop during this time
27. II. Puritans End their Pilgrimage at
Plymouth
Social unrest and rise of Calvinism led
to attraction to Puritanism
King James I harassed Puritan
separatists, went to Holland
Looked for haven where they could be
free to worship and live
1620- Negotiated with Virginia
Company, missed destination landed in
New England
Leader Myles Standish
Signed MayflowerCompact- set up
crude government, submit to the will of
the majority, first step toward self
government
Male settlers met in open discussion
28. II. Puritans End their Pilgrimage at
Plymouth
First winter took heavy toll (44
of 102 survived), nobody left
colony
Next year bountiful harvests,
Pilgrims saw some sign of
success
Found economic success in
fish, fur, lumber
William Bradford early leader
Colony never important
politically or economically
Significant for moral and
spiritual qualities, established
pattern in New England
1691- Merged with
29. III. Bay Colony Bible
Commonwealth
Separatist Puritans wanted “purified” form of Christianity,
not welcome in England, still members of Church of
England (Pilgrims)
1629 more moderate group secured royal charter, formed
Mass. Bay Company
Used charter as a form of constitution, had advantage of
being out of the reach of royal authority
Well equipped group settles 1630, larger scale than
previous settlements
John Winthrop gov. of Bay colony for 19 years (came
because “called by God”)
Important industries fishing, shipbuilding
Became biggest, most influential colony in New England
30. III. Bay Colony Bible
Commonwealth
Benefitted from shared sense of purpose, idea of “covenant” with
God
“We shall be a city upon a hill”
Believed they had a covenant with God, society a model to
humanity
31. IV. Building the Bay Colony
Common convictions shaped life
All free adult males, that were members of Puritan Congregations
(Congregational Church) had right to vote, participate in political
life
Town governments were more inclusive, all male property
holders could participate, all business decided by majority vote
Was not a democracy
All people paid taxes
Limitedendorsement of separationof churchandstate
Clergy could not hold political office
Congregations had right to hire, fire ministers
Protestant ethic emerges- serious commitment to work, worldly
pursuits
Religious leaders had enormous influence, govt. duty to enforce
religious rules
For Puritans hellfire was very real, community pressure to act in
32. V. Trouble in the Bible
Commonwealth
Roger Williams radical separatist, wanted clean
break from English church
Challenged legality of Bay Colony charter,
taking land from Indians
Did not want civil government to regulate
religion
1635- Banished from colony
Williams established religious tolerance in
Rhode Island
Most liberal of all colonies
Opposed special privilege, provided freedom
of opportunity
Settlements consisted of exiles and
malcontents from Bay Colony
Strongly Independent colony
Challenge to Puritan orthodoxy from Anne
Hutchinson, holy life no sure way to salvation,
why bother with following God’s laws
(antinomianism)
1638- Banished from Mass. colony
33. VI. New England Spreads
Out
1635 Connecticut River Valley
settled, largest area of fertile land in
New England
1639 Fundam e ntalO rde rs o f
Co nne cticut- like a modern
constitution, democratic regime
controlled by “substantial” citizens
Established unified government in
CT
First written constitution in America
1662- More religious colony, New
Haven merged with Connecticut
colony
1677 Maine- absorbed by Mass.
1679 New Hampshire became a
royal colony
34. VII. Puritans vs. Indians
Spread of English led to conflict with
Indians
Epidemics left them with no position
to resist English
1637 Pequot War– English destroy
Pequot (in CT) led to forty years of
uneasy peace
English tried to convert natives, put
them in praying towns (early
reservations?)
Only hope for resistance was in
unity
1675 King Phillip (Metacom) led
series of attacks on English
1676 KingPhillips Warended,
slowed westward advance of English
35. VIII. Seeds of Colonial Unity and
Independence
COLONIES UNDER ROYAL CONTROL
1660 Royalists restored (Stuart Restoration) in England, Charles II takes
more active role, colonies seen as economic asset
1662-Gives Connecticut a sea to sea grant, legitimized squatter
settlements
1663 Rhode Island receives new charter
1684 Bay colony charter revoked, provides more royal control
1651-1696 British pass series of NavigationActs that spell out
goods to be sold, and put the British government in charge of trade
Policy known as mercantilism, basically political control of the
economy by the state
Unintended consequence smuggling became popular
Restrictions on courts, press, mail, town meetings, schools;
revoked land titles
Tax colonies without consent, enforced Navigation Laws
36. VIII. Seeds of Colonial Unity and
Independence
1690s Monarchs relax control of colonial
trade, begin period of salutaryneglect
Residue: more English officials in America,
prevented rise of local leaders, beginnings
of resentment by colonists
37. X. Old Netherlanders at New Netherland
1609 Henry Hudson filed Dutch
claim to New York area
1623-1624 Ne w Ne the rland planted
(Dutch West India Company)
New Amsterdam established for fur
trade, quick profit for stockholders,
not democratic
cosmopolitan population, landed
aristocracy
Land granted for people who would
settle 50 people on them
(patroons)
38. XII. Dutch Residues in New
York
Regarded by English as
intruders, attacked by
English navy and
surrendered
Became New York
English had strategic harbor
in middle of colonies
Autocratic (self- governance)
spirit remained, also
influences of architecture
and place names
39. XIII. Penn’s Holy Experiment in
Pennsylvania
Quakers, began in England 1600’s
“quaked” with religious conviction
Refused to support Church of England
with taxes, serve in military
William Penn establishes an asylum in
New World
1681 receives land grant from crown
Welcomed all types of settlers
Tolerant of Indians
Wanted forward looking settlers,
liberal land policy
Attracted many immigrants
40. XV. The Middle Way in the Middle
Colonies
Middle colonies had fertile soil, known as
“bread colonies”
Rivers- ease of travel, brought people to
backcountry
Landholdings were intermediate in size
Ethnically diverse, religious toleration
Economic, social democracy found in
middle colonies
41. America 1720
Population growing
Permanent
settlements
established
Transportation,
communication
improving
British kept hands off
policy
Colonists developed
own churches,
governments,
43. II. Tobacco Economy
Chesapeake good for growing
tobacco
exhausted soil, constant
movement looking for more fertile
land
production depressed worldwide
prices
Needed labor- Indians died too
quickly, African slaves too
expensive
England had surplus of laborers,
turned to indentured servitude
By 1700 more than 100,000
indentured servants came to the
region
Eventually prime land became
scarce, land owners did not want
to give up land
Freed workers had to hire out for
44. III. Frustrated Freeman and Bacon’s
Rebellion
Early Colonial Virginia
Landless, penniless freemen
Single, young
No women, money
Only land in backcountry
Bacon’s Rebellion
VA Gov. Berkeley- friendly policies
toward Indians, monopoly on fur
trade
Did not retaliate after Indian attack
1676 Nathaniel Bacon and
followers, attacked Indians ,
chased gov. from Jamestown and
burned town
Bacon dies from disease,
Berkeley captures and hangs 20
45. Results of Bacon’s Rebellion
Exposed resentments between
inland frontiersmen/landless former
servants against gentry on coastal
plantations.
So cio -e co no m ic class
diffe re nce s/clashe s be twe e n
rural/urban co m m unitie s wo uld
co ntinue thro ug ho ut Am e rican
histo ry.
Upper class planters searched for
laborers less likely to rebel- black
slaves
Gave right to political participation
46. VI. Southern Society
Social hierarchy develops by late
1600’s
Plantation owners (“first families
of Virginia)
Small farmers largest group
Landless whites, many former
indentured servants
Oppressed black slaves
Few cities, urban professional
class slow to emerge
Life revolved around plantation
Transportation by rivers, poor
roads
47. VII. The New England
Family
Climate healthier
than south
Migrated to region as
families, population
grew by natural
increase
Family stability,
intergenerational
continuity (concept
of grandparents)
48. VIII. Life in New England Towns
Tight knit society based on communities
Surrounded by other colonial powers,
Puritan unity of purpose
Society grew in orderly fashion,
distribution of land by town fathers
Towns of more than 50 had to provide
elementary education in Mass.
Democracy in church govt, political govt.
49. XI. The Salem Witch Trails
1692 – Salem, MA women accused
of bewitching others, 20 put to
death
Resulted from social prejudices-
Puritan ide as vs. Rising Yanke e
co m m e rcialism (m any accuse d
fro m pro spe ro us part o f to wn),
m istrust o f o utside rs (Quake rs,
Baptists accuse d by Puritan
se ttle rs)), culturalm istrust o f
wo m e n (m o st accuse d we re o ld
50. XII. New England Way of Life
Lack of good farmland led to frugality of
settlers
Region less ethnically mixed
Diversified industry, experts in ship
building and commerce
Slavery not profitable
Saw duty to “improve” land, clearing,
planting, building
Religion, soil, climate led to
purposefulness, self- reliance,
resourcefulness
52. I. Conquest by the Cradle
1775- British had 32
colonies in NA
13 original colonies not the
wealthiest
Average age 16
Most population east of
Alleghenies, Appalachian
Mts.
By 1775 some had moved
west
90% lived in rural areas
Shifted balance of power
53. II. Mingling of the Races
Mostly English
Germans
Scots- Irish
1764- Paxton Boys protest
Quaker treatment of Indians
Othergroups- French
Huguenots,, Welsh, Dutch,
Swedes, Jews, Irish, Swiss,
Scots-Highlanders
African slave trade contributed
to population diversity
Laid foundations for multi-cultural
54. III. Structure of Colonial Society
America land of opportunity
No titled nobility
Social structure very fluid
By mid 1700’s- class differences emerge small
group of aristocrats had most power
Wars in 1700’s enriched a few merchants, made
orphans and widows (mostly in NE)
55. VIII. Great Awakening
Religion lost steam in 1700’s , New ideas challenged
old ways (predestination), new ideas of free will
1730’s and 1740’s -Great Awakening
Started in Mass.-
Deeply emotional sermons, well reasoned, Message
of human helplessness, divine omnipotence
Split congregations, increased number and
competitiveness of religions
Direct spirituality undermined older clergy
First mass movement of American people
Contributed to sense that Americans were common
people united by shared experience
56. Effects of the Great Awakening and
Enlightenment
Ideas of Enlightenment brought over from Europe,
affected American thought challenged
government and religious authority
Emphasized power of rational thought to explain
world, appealed to urban, merchant class
Led to expansion of education (colleges and
universities)
Ideas represented by Ben Franklin
In the South Great Awakening appealed to
landless whites and African Americans,
questioned authority of Anglican Church and
powerful economic interests
57. XI. American Colonies in 1775
By 1775 America more democratic
than Europe
Basically English in language and
custom
Protestant religion
Democratic ideas of tolerance,
educational advantages, equality of
economic opportunity, freedom of
speech, assembly and representative
government emerged in this period