Crash Course!

1

King of the Geeks!

The Southern Colonies

17th and 18th Centuries

General Characteristics of

the SouthThe Big Ideas

General Characteristics of the South

Dominated to a degree by a plantation economy: tobacco & rice

Slavery in all colonies; begins as indentured servants, develops into African slavery

Large land holdings in the hands of the favored few = aristocratic atmosphere

Sparsely populated: churches & schools too expensive for very small towns.

Church of England most prominent, but religious toleration is common 4

Virginia

Jamestown

Founded by Virginia Company (a joint-stock company)o Consisted largely of well-to-do

adventurers Virginia Charter

o Overseas settlers given same rights of Englishmen in England

o Foundation for American liberties; rights extended to other colonies.

o Colonists felt that, even in the Americas, they were still Englishmen

6

Jamestown

A group of 104 English men and boys began the settlement.

Founded by the second sons of wealthy families

Later brought women and children with the intention to set up a permanent colony.

7

Jamestown Settlement Map

8

The REAL John Smith Captain John Smith

organized the colony beginning in 1608: o "He who will not work

shall not eat." Smith kidnapped in Dec.

1607 by Chief Powhatan Smith perhaps "saved"

by Pocahantas, Powhatan's daughter, but evidence is shaky at best.

9

The Jamestown Nightmare

Only 40 of the original 104 survived the first year

In 1609, another ship from England lost its leaders and supplies in a shipwreck off the coast of Bermuda

Only 60 out of 400 settlers survived "starving time" of 1610-1611

“Gentleman” colonists would not work.

Settlers wasted time looking for gold instead of hunting or farming. 10

The “Starving Time” 1607: 104 colonists

By spring, 1608: 38 survived

1609: 300 more immigrants arrive

By spring, 1610: 60 survived

1610 – 1624: 10,000 immigrants arrive

1624 population: 1,200

Adult life expectancy: 40 years

Death of children before age 5: 80%

What affect might this mortality rate have on

Men Women Children

11

Effects of the “Starving Time”

Men: The men who survived were able to buy larger tracts of land, but there were fewer to work it. This increased the need for indentured servants or Indian slaves.

Women: High mortality among husbands and fathers left many women in the Chesapeake colonies with unusual autonomy and wealth (Widowarchy)

Children: Fewer children to help on family farms also contribute to the need for servants.

12

Reading: “Our Plantation is Very

Weak”

13

Powhatan Confederacy Powhatan dominated a few

dozen small tribes in the James River area when the English arrived.

The English called all Indians in the area Powhatans.

Powhatan probably saw the English as allies in his struggles to control other Indian tribes in the region.

14

Culture Clash in the Chesapeake

Relations between Indians & settlers grew worse.o General mistrust because of different cultures &

languages.o English raided Indian food supplies during the starving

times. 1610-1614 First Anglo-Powhatan War

o Lord De La Warr (Delaware) had orders to make war on the Indians.

o Raided villages, burned houses, took supplies, burned cornfields.

o Peace solidified with marriage of John Rolfe and Pocahontas

Powhatan uprising of 1622o Hundreds of Powhatan warriors descended upon English

colonists in Virginia, burning settlements and plantations along the James River coming perilously close to destroying Jamestown completely.

15

Culture Clash in the Chesapeake

1644-1646 Second Anglo-Powhatan Waro Last effort of natives

to defeat English.o Indians defeated

again. Peace Treaty of 1646

o Removed the Powhatans from their original land.

o Formally separated Indian and English settlement areas

16

John Rolfe John Rolfe created Jamestown’s

tobacco crop economy: "Colony built on smoke"

Rolfe introduced new tough strain of tobacco

Europeans became increasingly addicted to the nicotine; Tobacco industry became cornerstone of Virginia's economy

Plantation system emerged

17

The House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses established in 1619 & began to assume the role of the House of Commons in Englando Control over finances, militia, etc.

By the end of the 17c, H of B was able to initiate legislation.

A Council appointed by royal governoro Mainly leading planters.o Functions like House of Lords.o High death rates ensured rapid turnover of members.

18

Maryland

A Refuge for Catholics

“Mary’s Land”

Maryland is Founded King Charles I grants 10 million

acres of land to Sir George Calvert (the first Lord Baltimore) as a proprietary colony – the sole possession of Calvert and his heirs.

The colony was founded as a refuge for Catholics who were being persecuted in England.

Baltimore's plan was to govern as an absentee proprietor in a feudal relationship.o Huge tracts of land granted to his

Catholic relatives.o Smaller plots of land were given to

Protestant settlers, which later caused a rebellion

Act for Religious Toleration

Guaranteed toleration to all Christians. Decreed death to those who denied the divinity of

Jesus [like Jews, atheists, etc.]. In one way, it was less tolerant than before the

law was passed

Carolina

The West Indies: Way Station to the Americas

1670 – a group of small English farmers from the W. Indies arrived in Carolinao Carolina named for King

Charles IIo Brought a few black

slaves and the Barbados slave system with them.

Carolina was granted by the King to 8 Lord Proprietorso Exported wine, silk, and

olive oil to Europe

Port of Charles Town, SC

Also named for Charles II Became the busiest port of the South City with an aristocratic feel

Crops of the Carolinas

Main crops: rice, indigo, and later cotton

The primary export was rice, still seen as exotic in England.o Rice grown in Africa,

so planters imported W. African slaves

By 1710 black slaves were the majority in Carolina

Conflict with Spanish Florida

Catholic Spain hated the mass of Protestant settlers on their border

Anglo-Spanish Warso Spanish conducted

border raids on Carolina

o Natives drawn in to help

o Natives would later withdraw to PA

o Would later lead to American acquisition of Florida

The Emergence of North Carolina

Northern part of Carolina shared a border with VAo VA was dominated by

aristocratic planters, generally Anglican

o Dissenters moved to northern Carolina – poor farmers with little need for slaves and religious dissenters

o Created an environment that was irreligious, resistant to authority/aristocracy and hospitable to pirates

1712 – NC separates from SC

Georgia

Late-Coming Georgia Founded in 1733, last of the

13 colonies Named after King George II Founded by James

Oglethorpeo Created as a “buffer” between

English colonies and Spanish Florida and French Louisiana

o Received subsidies from British govt. to offset costs of defense.

o Also a haven for debtors o Determined to keep slavery

out, but brought in by 1750o All Christians except Catholics

enjoyed religious toleration.

30