English in America

England before colonization:

Civil war. Kings and Parliament fought for years
Protestant Reformation
Radical Protestantism grows in Europe, especially Calvinism
Anglican Church
Henry VIII could not produce a male child and wanted to divorce (annul) his wife, daughter of the King of Spain
The Pope would not grant the annulment, so Henry started his own church
Calvinist “Puritans” flee from forced involvement in Henry's Anglican church
England vs. Spain
England was anti-Catholic, therefore anti-Spain
Spain was anti-Protestant, therefore anti-England
The new English navy robbed and fought the older, more powerful Spanish navy, and won
England's first colonies sucked and failed.

Why did the English become interested in moving?

Political instability
Religious freedom
Poverty
Massachusetts
Pilgrims left England for Holland to save their religion, then left Holland for America to save their culture
Created the Mayflower Compact because they landed in the wrong place and had no legal government. 1st Constitution in America
“City on a hill” tried to create a community without temptations or spiritual distractions
Unlike earlier settlements, whole families came
Unlike earlier, better climate and resources

Puritan culture

Unlike England, people were not forced to go to church
Church members had to prove they were saved by God (Calvinism)
Male church members could vote
Town meeting halls and churches were often the same building
If citizens were distractions to the Puritans, they were kicked out of town

Rhode Island

Roger Williams questioned the legality of the colony, its connections to England, and its unfairness towards natives
Antinomianism – freedom from law (church law)
Anne Hutchinson said that God spoke directly to her, not through the church or Bible
Directly questioned legal authority
A talking woman! With ideas? That can't be good.
She and her followers also went to Rhode Island
Religious and political leaders in Massachusetts settled farther down shore to (now) Connecticut
New Hampshire had more distant ties to Massachusetts and became its own colony.
Maine was claimed by Massachusetts, though sparsely populated. It became its own state in 1820.

Characteristics of New England states:

Homogeneous demographics
Settled for religious reasons
Church and state were closely related
Stable communities with families and laws
Population centers with meeting places
Easy access to water for trade and travel
Independent spirit & distinct cultural identity

Southern Colonies: Virginia

Named after Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen
Joint-stock company:
Investors got a piece of land in VA, share of profits
English interest in moving:
Overcrowding in England, lack of jobs
Many move to London but cannot find work
Jamestown was a good place for a fort, not a colony
Why Chesapeake colonies failed
Attacks by natives
Disease (mosquitoes, etc.)
Swamps
Bad water
Unrealistic expectations
Selfish, not selfless, settlers
Lack of food
Lack of supplies
Little agricultural knowledge
How does the colony make a profit?

Tobacco

A weed – grows easily
Sudden, high demand in Europe
Headright:
Land was given to those who paid their own way to Virginia, but even more land when paying others' way
Indentured servitude, then slavery
Few rich landowners, many indebted workers
Greed, individualism led Virginia to bankruptcy
King took over, but the colony's assembly kept meeting

Maryland: Catholic Refuge

Named after Queen Mary
Lord Baltimore sold land to make money. He created a hierarchy of rich landowners and less privileged, smaller landowners
Settlers refused to take part in an unequal system
Puritan settlers pressured the colony to tolerate their religious views
“Act concerning Religion”
All religion tolerated as long as it was Christian

Carolina

Named after King Charles I (Mary's dead husband)
Settled by supporters of the royal family
Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina
Rich landowners had one house of government
Smaller landowners had another house
Bicameral government: 2-house legislature
Land sold for profit. Landowners eventually grew rice for money
Many landowners came from plantations in Barbados, bring system of slavery with them

Georgia

Named after King George II
Bordering Spanish Florida, James Oglethorpe thought he could keep Spain from spreading north
English owners controlled all aspects of government, banning slavery and liquor
England tried populating the colony with debtors to keep them out of prison
Economically uncompetitive
Few settlers
Owners eventually gave up

Mid-Atlantic Colonies

New York

New Amsterdam became the trading center of New Netherland
Settlers were employees of the Dutch West India Co.
Settlers felt mistreated by their Company, often ignoring orders
Small, but multicultural. Weak government. Ethnic groups remained largely independent
England seized New Amsterdam, renaming it New York. Dutch get permission to stay and keep land

New Jersey

Duke of York gave part of New York to several supporters at the same time
Colony split into East and West factions
The arguing courtiers eventually gave up, selling the land to Quakers
One of the interested parties, William Penn, gave up and moved farther West
The King rejoined the bankrupt Jerseys so they'd survive

Pennsylvania

“Penn's Woods”
Originally colonized by Dutch until English kicked them out
Penn was a follower of the Quakers, and make his colony a Quaker haven
Pacifists
Believed everyone was equal
Everyone had an “inner light” from the God
Simplistic life and appearance
Pennsylvanians were supposed to have:
Liberty of conscience
Freedom from persecution
No taxation without representation
Due process of law
Delaware formed from southeast part of colony