The Beginnings: Colonial America
Age of Exploration Three powers create a struggle Portugal Spain England Collision of Worlds Columbus Europe, Africa, & the Americas Creates a “New World” Interactions with Native Americans Columbian Exchange
English Colonies Emerge Jamestown, Virginia was the first All originally had plantation agriculture, indentured and slave labor, hierarchies (social and economic), weak settlements
New England Colonies Religious and political turmoil shaped settlement Puritans—great migration Basis for individualism in America??? Several colonies developed out of this Beginnings of Government Written constitutions Town hall meetings Representative law making
Middle Colonies Diversity Political Social Religious Ethnic Differences lead to conflict—Bacon’s Rebellion “American” Variety of Labor (indentured servants, headright system, slaves)
Life in the Colonies Chesapeake Social hierarchy Single men, few families Slave society Disease Tobacco economy New England Centered on family & religion Fishing/trading/merchant shipping
Life in the Colonies Self-government Social mobility Religious toleration Colonists lived in abundance compared to their European peers. Land was cheap, but passage cost money – most colonists were the middle class. Population was beginning to grow more quickly
Population Growth
Religion—The Great Awakening Resurgence of religion in the colonies Jonathan Edwards—”Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Traveling sermons—only those who believed in & openly professed belief in Jesus would be saved; rest to Hell Emotion based sermons and preaching Effects Ministers lost authority Divisions within churches People could make their own decisions about religion, then they could about politics too
Great Britain vs. France Struggle for control of colonies French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) France leaves Rising tensions between British and colonists