American History I Early America 1492-1700 NCFE Review

Mercantilism Europeans (Spanish, Portuguese, British, and French) came to America looking for raw materials and new markets to sell their goods. Mercantilism: Policy of establishing a favorable balance of trade between a country and its colonies that increasing the wealth of the home country. Favorable balance of trade Exports (raw materials) > Imports (finished goods)

Columbian Exchange Explorers used the Native Americans to gain access to raw materials that could bring wealth to the home country (gold). Columbian Exchange: The exchange of foods, plants, animals, and diseases between the Europeans and Native Americans. Native Americans suffered and died from diseases such as small pox, influenza, and measles.

Jamestown Joint Stock companies sent groups of people to the New World in order to make a profit off of raw materials. (Ex: Virginia Company) Virginia company sent a group of 100 men to settle a company along the James River, call their colony Jamestown. Many men began to die due to raids by Native Americans and disease. Virginia Company offers free passage for anyone willing to work for 7 years, called indentured servants. Virginia Company, under the leadership of John Rolfe, introduces tobacco and is able to survive.

Middle Passage Indentured servants played a key role as a source of labor in the growth of the plantation system in Virginia and Maryland. Those people who paid for the passage of a laborer would receive 50 acres of land, called the Headright System. Slave labor was introduced in the late 1600s and spread rapidly throughout the colonies replacing indentured servants. Slaves traveled to the New World via the Middle Passage. The addition of slavery leads to the Triangular Trade developing between England, Africa, and the Americas to trade raw materials, slaves, and finished goods.

Bacon’s Rebellion Former indentured servants, who were very poor, lived out in the West and suffered many attacks by Native Americans. Nathaniel Bacon led an armed revolt against to protest. Bacon’s Rebellion exposed tensions between the poor indentured servants and the rich planter class. The planters turn to slaves as more reliable sources of labor.

Slavery in the Colonies Slavery grew and developed as tobacco farming spread because it required inexpensive labor. Slavery was established as legal in all 13 colonies. The Stono Rebellion was one of the earliest acts of rebellion against slavery in America. Slaves living in Charleston, SC attempted to flee south to Spanish Florida where they hoped to gain their freedom.

The Puritans The Puritans came to New England to escape religious persecution. They were led by John Winthrop. John Winthrop wanted the Puritans to create a model Christian society, which he referred to as “a City Upon a Hill.” “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”

The Puritans The Puritans immigrated to America for religious freedom, but they did not allow other religions. Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were expelled for challenging Puritan authorities. As time passed, Puritans realized they needed to ease requirements for church membership so they established the Halfway Covenant that allowed for the baptism of children of baptized but unconverted Puritans.

Salem Witch Trials In 1692, young girls in Salem Village begin acting strangely and claim they were bewitched. Belief in witchcraft was common in the 1600s Hysteria gripped the colony and eventually hundreds of people were arrested and 19 were executed as witches. Eventually the Salem Witch trials were condemned and remaining prisoners were set free

First Great Awakening The First Great Awakening was a “wave” of religious revivals in the mid 1700s in which “New Light” ministers advocated to an emotional approach to religious practice. This new approach weakened the authority of “Old Light” ministers and led to divisions amongst the Presbyterian and Congregational churches. Created religious diversity amongst the colonies.