Spanish Explorers & Colonies
Building a Spanish Empire (see map p. 30)Conquistadors come to the New World for “God, gold and glory.”
Juan Ponce de Leon – Sought the Fountain of Youth. Claimed Florida for Spain
Vasco Nunez de Balboa – explores the isthmus of Panama. First European to see the Pacific from America
Ferdinand Magellan – died along the way but…his ship made it around the world (first known to do so)
Hernan Cortes – Conquers the Aztecs
Francisco Pizarro – fights to conquer the Incas
Spanish Colonies
Missionaries – do most of the actual work of colonization, but are resisted by native peoples
Pueblo Revolt 1680
National Geographic: Guns, Germs & Steel
Unlike other Europeans, the Spanish incorporate native peoples into their colonies.
mostly forced labor
Some intermarriage
Spanish push north in search of gold, defensive positions and trade routes.
The Jamestown Colony
Early English ExplorersHenry Hudson: Thought the Hudson River was the “Northwest Passage.” But it wasn’t. Still a nice river though.
Sir Francis Drake: “Sea Dog.” First English captain to sail around the world.
England wants American coloniesBase for privateers
Looking for a Northwest Passage to the Indies
Want new markets
England’s too crowded!
Jamestown
1607: After the Roanoke mystery / disaster, English investors get a charter to form a joint-stock company (Virginia Company) that will finance a stronger colony at Jamestown, Virginia.
Hard TimesSettlers not used to colonial labor
Swamps = mosquitoes = disease = death
Weak leadership until John Smith takes charge, but he gets hurt and goes home.
The Starving Time (see p. 39)
Breaking News: Things got REALLY BAD at Jamestown
Jamestown
Governing the ColonyVirginia Company fails so King James I takes over and makes Jamestown / Virginia a royal colony – governor appointed by the king.
Virginia has its own legislature made up of colonists (House of Burgesses).
First instance of limited self-government in the English colonies.
Native Americans fight back as the colonists push out into their territory.
JamestownTobacco to the rescue!
Colonists send some of this native plant back to England and $$$ begins to flow.
Tobacco plantations begin to growBrits are promised 50 acres if they go to Virginia
Great deal because England is overcrowded and unemployment is high
Indentured servants – poor folks who couldn’t afford to sail for the New World would agree to work off the passage fare (7 years!) if a rich plantation owner paid.
Bacon’s Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon: Tougher than he looks. Bacon’s Rebellion: poor colonists got tired of a government that doesn’t care about them. Bacon went to fight the natives for more land, but turned around and burned Jamestown instead. He controlled Virginia until he got sick and died a few months later.
New England Colonies
The French in North AmericaVerrazano (an Italian) came through NY Harbor
French settle along rivers and focus on fur trade with Native Americans, which leads to Iroquois League
Plymouth ColonyPuritans flee England for religious freedom
Mayflower Compact – early self-government
In search of a “Purer Society for God” religious intolerance leads to abuse: Salem Witch Trials. (p. 45)
Puritan ethic
New England Colonies
MA, RI, CT, NH
Geography: Good harbors, cold winters, rocky soil, short growing season
Society: Generally established to escape religious persecution (English Puritans). Highly literate society, Protestant work ethic
Economy: diverse - trade, shipbuilding, lumber, fishing
Town Meetings – early self-government
Middle Colonies
NY, NJ, PA, DE1644 - New Amsterdam becomes New York (NYC!)
Geography: Less severe winters, fertile soil, good harbors
Society: very diverse in terms of nationalities and religions
Economy: some cash crops (wheat, corn), some trade
Southern Colonies
VA, MD, NC, SC, GA
Geography: Long growing season, fertile soil
Society: English & African slaves
Economy: Large scale farming plantations (tobacco, rice, indigo)
Plantations were largely self-sufficient; least populated region
Slavery in the Colonies
Slaves were held throughout the colonies, but they became essential in the Southern Colonies
Slavery becomes permanent (not indentured servitude)
By 1700, slavery becomes law and race-based.
Slave resistanceOn slave ships – revolts or suicide
In the colonies – escape, resistance, rebellion
Primary Source – Aboard a Slave Ship, Olaudah Equiano