Period 2 (HH)
European Colonization in America
Different European nations began coming to America cuz they realized
it was rly good
France
First permanent settlement: Quebec
French had more desire for trade than conquest
Especially fur and fish
French mainly interacted with Ojibwe tribe
Led to cultural exchange
France wanted cloths and furs
Natives wanted cookware and tools
Dutch
Henry Hudson went to find waterway through America, failed
But Dutch claimed land and called it New Amsterdam
Dutch also only wanted to trade with Natives
Were mainly protestant, didn't want to convert Natives
Britain
Motivated by new economic opportunities
Britain was broke so they wanted more money and land
Many also left Britain to obtain religious freedom and improve living conditions
The English came and settled in family groups, very different from other nations
Lived peacefully with Natives for a bit, until they got greedy and encroached on their
land
Instead of taking over Native population, English expelled them completely
Summary
Many different European nations came to America for different reasons
All interacted differently and had different influence
Spain wanted conquest
France and Dutch wanted trade
Britain wanted economic oppurtunity
Britain most important
British Colonies
Chesapeake Colony
First North American town established by British
Jamestown
Funded by joint-stock companies
People take risk and invest in town, hope to get returns when town is up and
running
Purpose was to PROFIT
Most colonists dug for gold and silver and built military site to protect it
But most died in a famine cuz they didn't get enough food, also disease
Tobacco
People learned how to cultivate tobacco and it gave Jamestown another chance
Sent it back to Britain and they got super rich
Tobacco fields were worked by indentured servants
People who couldn't afford trip so they paid by working for free
But now they needed more land to grow tobacco, so they took it from the Natives
Natives didn't like that so they revolted and raided the crop fields
Colonists went and asked governor to help, but bro didn't cuz yea
Led to rebellion against the Natives and also the governor and destroyed a lot of stuff
Rebellion was squashed but had a huge impact
Plantation owners realized more rebellions were possible
Led to them turning to African slave labor to meet labor needs
New England Colonies
Made up of pilgrims who were puritans
Came to America because they weren't happy with protestant beliefs in Europe
Were NOT seeking religious freedom
Came for economy opportunities, needed land to farm
Came as family groups, wanted to establish a society
But fever and disease killed many, but after a couple years it began to thrive
British West Indies & Southern Atlantic Coast
Warm climate allowed for year-round growth of crops
At first, tobacco, then, sugarcane
Required lots of African slaves, led to strict slave codes
Defined enslaved people as property
People near modern day South Carolina liked it and decided to replicate it
Middle Colonies
New York & New Jersey
Near the sea with many waterways connecting things
Led it to develop economy based on exports
Colonies were diverse but eventually an elite class was formed, led to hierarchy
Urban merchants
Artisans, shopkeepers
Unskilled laborers, orphans, widows, unemployed
Enslaved Africans
Pennsylvania
Offered religious freedom for all
When trying to expand, negotiated with Natives rather than taking land
All Colonies had one thing in common:
All had democratic-ish forms of government
Caused by distance from Europe, lack of influence
Summary
British first came in search of wealth in form of minerals
Funded by joint-stock companies
After mining failed, discovered tobacco and made them very rich
All colonies were incredibly different from one another, but all shared democratic
forms of government
African slave labor utilized in many colonies to meet labor needs
Ultimate Review Notes
Different European Colonizations
Spain
Wanted conquest
Established colonies to extract wealth (Gold, Silver, Cash Crops)
Tried to convert the Natives to Christianity, kinda successful, not really tho
France
Wanted to trade for furs and cloths
Some French married Natives to allow for better relationship
Led to mutual benefit
French got fish and furs
Indians got iron cookware and new tech
Only a few French came to America
Dutch
Also wanted trade
Protestant, but didn't try to convert Natives
Established New Amsterdam, became major trading hub
British
Britain was a mess
Broke, war-torn, inflation
Especially bad for noble class, but also lower classes
Motivated them to colonize America
New economic opportunities
Escaping bad conditions
Religious freedom
Chesapeake Colony
Jamestown
First British colony in America
Funded by joint-stock companies, not the state
Jamestown was abt money and profit
Colonists dug for gold and silver and built things to protect it
But disease and famine killed a lot of them in the first few years
But stumbled upon a miracle
Tobacco
Plantations worked by indentured servants
As tobacco demand increased, needs for land increased
Took land from Natives, enraged Natives, Natives fought back
Made colonists mad and so they went to their leader
Leader didn't help so farmers and servants rebelled
Bacons Rebellion
Burned stuff
Rebellion was squashed tho
Showed leaders that these ppl weren't good workers and were dangerous
Led to increased use of African slave labor because they were less likely to
revolt
New England
Settled by Pilgrims and families
Not focused on profit, rather establishing society
Very serious Christians
Very difficult for them too, many died from disease, but they got through it and thrived
British West Indies
Warm climate allowed for year round growth of tobacco
But it was replaced by sugarcane later cuz it was more profitable
But sugar cane cultivation is labor intensive
Led to increase in African slave labor in this area
Massive spike in African population, more black than white
Led to strict laws being passed to govern slaves
First time slaves became known as property, not people
People near present-day South Carolina saw this and wanted to do it too
So they did.
Middle Colonies
New Jersey & New York
Proximity to the sea and many rivers gave it economy based on exports
Exported cereal crops
Led to gap in wealth (formation of elite class and lower working class)
Also had African slaves
Pennsylvania
Religious freedom for all
Land obtained from Natives using peaceful negotiations
All colonies developed democratic-ish systems of government due to
isolation from Europe
Ex: Mayflower Compact, House of Burgesses, etc.
All dominated by elite class
Triangular Trade
System of trade throughout Atlantic ocean between Africa, America, and Europe
Period 2 Rewrite
Many colonies established in America after it's discovery
Spain
Focused on...
Conquest
Extracting wealth
Gold, silver, cash crops
Wanted to convert Natives to Christianity, not many did
French
Wanted to trade with Natives for furs and cloths
Some French ppl married Natives to ensure strong relationship
Both sides benefitted
French got fish and furs
Natives got iron cookware and technology
Only a few French ppl came to America
Dutch
Also wanted to trade
Protestant but didn't try converting natives
Established major trading hubs like New Amsterdam
British
During this time, Britain was in a bad place
Inflation, war-torn, had no more money
Especially for noble class, but also lower classes
Motivated them to find new places and opportunities: AMERICA
America had new economic opportunities
Ppl wanted to get religious freedom and escape bad conditions in Britain
They immigrated to America and established many colonies
Chesapeake Colonies
Jamestown was first British colony in America
It was funded by joint-stock ventures rather than Britain itself
Ppl invested into Jamestown and got returns when wealth extracted from there
Jamestown was all abt profit
Ppl focused on profit so much they forgot to get survival stuff, many perished due to
lack of food and disease
Until they discovered tobacco...
Began growing tobacco in plantations run by indentured servants
Increased demand for tobacco led to need for more land
Land was taken from Natives, but Natives fought back
Farmers went to their leader about it but he did nothing, enraged the farmers
They rebelled: Bacon's Rebellion
Farmers burned stuff in protest but the rebellion was squashed
Led to ppl using African slaves cuz they're easier to control
New England Colonies
Pilgrims came to establish a society, not profit
They were VERY serious Christians
Many of them died from disease but afterwards they thrived
British West Indies
Warm climate allowed for year round growth of tobacco
Tobacco eventually replaced with sugarcane cuz it's more profitable
Sugarcane very labor intensive, led to increase in demand for laborers: slaves
Tons of slaves were brought and led to huge spike in black population
Led to lots of laws to control them, first time slave considered property
Colonies in South Carolina saw this too and did it too
Middle Colonies
New York & New Jersey
Proximity to sea and rivers led to lots of exports
Created large gap between wealthy and poor, almost no middle class
Pennsylvania
Religious freedom for everyone
Acquired land from Natives using peaceful negotiations
All colonies developed democratic-ish governments due to
distance from Europe
Ex: House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact, etc.
All govts. dominated by rich ppl and elite class
Summary Period 2
Many European colonies established after discovery of America
Spanish
Wanted conquest, riches, and to convert natives to Christianity
French & Dutch
Wanted to trade and build relations, built large trading centers
British
Ppl came from Britain to escape worsening conditions there
Built many colonies
Jamestown, New York, Pennsylvania, New England, West Indies, etc...
Discovery of tobacco led to creation of new cash crop
Also led to increase in African slave labor
All colonies developed type of democracy due to distance from Europe
Ex: House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact, etc...
All govts. were controlled by wealthy and elite class
