English Empire Note in 1707 England and Scotland became unified and from then on known as Britain

Role of England England weak, politically and economically in comparison to Spain. Henry VII sponsored John Cabot’s voyages to Canada 1497 lost interest when NW passage not discovered. Lack of political will, and military capacity to challenge Spain before later 16thC

Ireland Ireland conquered by Normans, but gradually England lost control. Tudors show renewed interest. Military expeditions during Elizabethan Age led by soldiers & adventurers.

Followed up by colonizers Seeking land holdings and use of Gaelic Irish as serfs, frequent atrocities and brutality towards Irish About 200,000 migrants from GB to Ireland 1600-1670

Ireland as a blueprint Finance Promotional literature Attitudes towards native peoples Individuals involved e.g. Richard Grenville, Humphrey Gilbert, Walter Raleigh.

Video Questions 1 1. Shift in seventeenth century Virginia away from indentured servant labor was accompanied by increasing tobacco production. slowing rates of population growth. accelerating movement toward democracy. using race as a dividing line among the poor.

Video Questions 2 2. Professor Karen Kupperman refers to property ownership in colonial Virginia as a "double-edged sword" because it applied to both land and labor. guaranteed both whites and blacks the right to vote. Tended to destroy a sense of community. Gave women a cause to complain about.

English Imperial Ambitions Motivation: Envy of Spanish Colonial treasure Wealth helped Spain become most powerful nation; English policy: Break the Iberian monopoly on America fear that American wealth, after Henry VIII's split with Rome (1534), could be used against them. English sanctioned privateering operations. Captured Spanish treasure ships bringing gold & silver from New World.

By 1580 increasingly dangerous to prey on Spanish shipping American base needed. American colonies also ease English reliance on southern Europe for citrus fruits, silks, and vines. 1st patent to settle in America granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert half brother to Walter Raleigh, settle anywhere between Florida and Northern Canada

Early British Attempts Initially England was not successful Martin Frobsier Searching for gold and a northwest passage 3 failed journeys between 1576-1578

John Hawkins and Francis Drake Humphrey Gilbert Attempted to settle in Newfoundland – failed, Gilbert dies at sea John Hawkins and Francis Drake Successful in the Caribbean But as pirates not settlers But by 1580 England still had no permanent settlement in Americas

Roanoke 3 English voyages to settle North America in 1580s. First landed at Roanoke Island, North Carolina on July 13th, 1584, short lived military expedition found that the land was suitable for both cultivation and defence, returned home to England with 2 local Indians, Manteo & Wanchese.

Roanoke Island

Ralph Lane, discovered Chesapeake Bay 1585-6, 2nd English Voyage Ralph Lane, discovered Chesapeake Bay ideal as naval base. Noted for the oil paintings of John White and the descriptions of Thomas Hariot. But, young male adventurers, with ambitions of land and wealth, not ideal colonists.

Indian relations deteriorated, food supply from Indians cut off Drake arrived summer 1586, seeking re-supply, ends up providing food for colonists, eventually agrees to return them to England

Third voyage 1587: different from previous ones Colonists were farmers not soldiers came in family groups. Intended to be a permanent settlement, self-sustaining and self-reproducing. John White Governor, returned to England for more supplies Leaving daughter and grand-daughter, Virginia Dare, at Roanoke.

When finally arrives, found settlement abandoned Unable to return until 1590 Due to Spanish Armada When finally arrives, found settlement abandoned colonists never seen again.

Importance of Roanoke 3 voyages saw evolution of colonising thought Roanoke seen as A base for privateering, Then a place where valuable raw materials could be shipped to England, Third voyage aimed to settle permanently.

Lessons of Roanoke were clear: no colony could exist without full support from mother country in terms of men and supplies for at least the first few years clear goals needed to give direction and purpose to the colonisation effort good relations with the Indians were necessary to learn the best survival techniques in the American wilderness.

Conclusions Failure of Roanoke great setback for England imperial ambitions. 1600 still no permanent English settlement in North America Yet England had taste for colonization, saw it was practical, possible and still thought it worthwhile & potentially profitable.

After Roanoke 20 year wait for colonisation to restart Nothing possible until succession decided, too much uncertainty James I (1603-25) ends war with Spain 1604. Ends profits from privateering Leads to reconsideration of colonisation Importance of getting a charter, royal sanction/support sets out claims, regardless of other powers 1606 charters given to Virginia Company of London and Virginia Company of Plymouth to settle between 34 and 45 degrees N latitude, (NC to Maine)

Grant to Virginia Co.

The Virginia Company Made up of merchants and gentlemen charter talks of trade and bringing Christianity to natives. Needs colonists as traders potential soldiers to defend against Spanish Offers free land for settlers 144 young men to go on first voyage on board 3 ships (Godspeed, Discovery and Susan Constant) Arrives Chesapeake bay April 26 1607 Jamestown May 1607

James Fort First Building in America by British

VA Problems of Authority Virginia has crisis of authority 1st two governors lose control quickly only 38 of 144 original migrants still alive in Nov 1607. Solved by John Smith elected Gov in Dec 1608 introduced system of Martial Law moved colony inland learned survival techniques from Indians

New fleet arrives June 1609, brings 900 new settlers. ‘The Starving Time’ New fleet arrives June 1609, brings 900 new settlers. Smith ousted, and returns to England No effective leadership during harsh winter of 1609-10 lack of planning – no food stockpiled widespread starvation some cannibalism.

Decide to return to England Spring 1610 only 60 survivors Decide to return to England Prevented by arrival of new Governor Lord De La Warre Laws Divine, Moral and Martial 1611 Response of Virginia Co House of Burgesses First elected body in North America, July 1619 Again before Pilgrims

Migrants Before 1618 all migrants: Male Most under 25 Free land offered obvious draw to poor, as well as to younger sons of gentry, i.e. those with little prospect of riches in England Main motivation economic, seeking fortune and status See Virginia as temporary home

Importance of indentured labour Main source of labour in Virginia before 1680 People were ‘sold’ for number of years in return for passage. Possibility of land at end of service. Problems of flight seen as form of slavery,

Suggestion religion had role in colonisation Mentioned in charter Used as recruitment tactic But little attention paid by colonists once there. Authority derived from either tradition (elders), law (officials) or charisma (dictators) First church built in 1639 32 years after arrival Rebuilt in 1907 on original spot

Indians Problems with Indians major factor in Virginia development Powhatan confederacy more powerful than English Numbers approx 10,000 in 1620 1000 English in 1624 Initial antagonism – disputes over property Smith’s role – situation calms in 1610s Rolfe marries Pocahontas

Powhatan sees English as potential allies vs interior tribes. Irrelevant to broader region of Powhatan Empire Never imagines they would be threat to him Trades for weapons etc Powhatan dies 1622

Succeeded by brother Opechancanough more hostile to English especially encroachment on lands Role of tobacco in taking Indian lands English authorities unable to prevent it

Achieves total surprise Kills 347 whites out of population of 1200. Opechancanough thought English would leave But attack cements negative image of Indians among English makes their destruction easier to live with

Attack on Good Friday (March 22) 1622

Conclusions Virginia in 1624 in turmoil Politically unstable e.g. Virginia Co loss of charter 1624 Endured disease, war, death. Only about 1000 whites in Virginia after 17yrs of colonisation settlement still in balance could easily still fail.

Economic Development No economic purpose to early settlement 1612 planting of Trinidadian tobacco by John Rolfe. Rapid growth of production 2,000 lbs in 1615 1.5m lbs 1629 by 1620 meant single farmer with no extra labour could make £200/yr profit. Also cause of instability.

Larger plantation owners were able to survive through Expanding length of indenture Increasing punishments for infractions of contract Renting land Selling other crops and From money earned from positions in the local government Wealthy landowners also closed up

Drop in profits led to a situation whereby Indentured servants Still the dominant labor force Had little money or opportunity to set themselves up as plantation owners. Creates a group of landless freemen

Into this problematic situation stepped Nathanial Bacon

From Virginia we head west to New Mexico and the Pueblo Revolt

29 year old Cambridge graduate Bacon reputed to have been sent to America by his family in a hope that it would mature him and make him into a Man. 29 year old Cambridge graduate From wealthy English family, related by marriage to Virginia governor Sir William Berkley Everything looked good Bacon given a land grant and a seat on the council.

Problems mentioned earlier had many people who were outside the wealthy group looking for scapegoats for their situation In July 1675 a group was found. A group of Doeg Indians raided the plantation of Thomas Mathews. Mathews plantation was on the outskirts of the area controlled by the English

Raid was not a random attack by “wild Indians” But an attempt to get paid for goods that Mathews had obtained from the tribe. Several Indians were killed in the attack as was the herdsman of Mathews plantation

However, they also killed a number of Susquehannocks In revenge the local colonists went after the Doeg Indians and killed ten or more However, they also killed a number of Susquehannocks a tribe that were at peace with and regularly traded with the English. Governor Berkeley stepped in and attempted to restore order by ordering an investigation and set up a negation meeting between the English and the Susquehannocks

During this meeting the local militia killed the chiefs sent to negotiate The Susquehannocks went on a series of retaliatory attacks along the James River Bacon’s overseer was killed. Governor Berkeley planned a series of forts to protect the outlying communities These forts would be paid for out of taxes,

Outlying planters financially strapped by low Tobacco prices and a stagnant economy preferred the cheaper option An outright war to kill all Indians and seize their lands. They elected Bacon as their leader

Bacon’s popularity led legislature Led 300 men on an attack on local Indian population on April 1676 – he found only friendly Indians Killed them anyway Bacon’s popularity led legislature under Berkeley To pass legislation that allowed Indians to be termed: enemies if they left their village without permission from the English

This allowed their lands and property to be taken. How would you react if 1000 angry men – the size of Bacon’s following at this time – came charging towards your village? Policy allowed in part as rich landowners thought they would be able to expand their wealth from these acquisitions.

The governor realizing that this policy was not working ordered the end of hostilities Bacon returned at the head of his army and rode into Jamestown. Chased the governor away and burnt the capital building offered freedom to any of Berkeley’s supporters, servants or slaves who joined them.

and the rebellion was over. Just as Bacon and the rebellion that bore his name was at the height of its power Bacon died possibly of dysentery and the rebellion was over. Berkeley quickly regained control and punished Bacon’s supporters severely.

Aftermath English government sent to troops to quell uprising Virginia at peace long before they arrived. Berkeley recalled New governor implemented some reforms and hit rebels hard Executed leaders and imprisoned others Sending a message that rebellion was never justified, no matter what the provocation. The long term effect for Indians was that the frontier was again pushed back

Possible Explanations Instability on frontier mixing of freed servants, blacks, Indians; taxes high, discontent over spending priorities, so rebellion a symbol of class conflict lower death rates and immigration of royalists meant social mobility falling Establishing First Families of Virginia – even Bacon excluded Bacon as popular democratic hero struggling vs tyranny failure leads to ‘end of American Independence’

Back to the British colonies Not Virginia Not New England But the richest place in the British Empire Barbados

Important for two reasons Barbados Colonized 1630s Important for two reasons Wealth Structure Both transferred to mainland

Annual sugar exports 1650 -150,000 pounds 1700 – 50 Million 1680 planter in Barbados 4 times richer than tobacco planter in Chesapeake Also held 115 slaves

Virginia and wider Chesapeake region was: Remember this man? Virginia and wider Chesapeake region was: Growing Losing attractiveness for Indentured servants But still needed Cheap labor 1650s Africans 3% of Chesapeake Majority population on Barbados

Obtained charter to create colony south of Chesapeake 1663 John Collerton Barbadian planter Obtained charter to create colony south of Chesapeake Carolina 1670 settled in Charles Towne 1712 split into two

Campbell / Galenson historical debate over social status Were migrants ‘middling people’ or ‘common sort’ ? Problem source materials mainly from 1650s incompleteness of data Probably reflected English population mainly poor (farmers, labourers, artisans), but not the truly destitute A few merchants, aristocrats, or wealthy people