British Colonization - PowerPoint Presentation

British Colonization North Atlantic Exploration and the Chesapeake

Early Atlantic Economy

Richard Hakluyt’s Argument Richard Hakluyt made argument to English royals and merchants in favor of British colonization in the Americas: Main points: Agriculture and wealth to be found It’s easy – open areas of N. America, no interference or conflicts with Spanish (or other powers) No competition for wealth, power, control Religion – spread Christianity to new areas of the world Protestantism – spread British Anglicanism instead of Catholicism Safety valve for the poor – Britain’s many poor can be relocated to Americas, making them useful, and getting them out of the Crown’s hair

Hakluyt Map, 1599

British Economic Motives Competition with Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French Explored and exploited northern Atlantic waters for fish (cod) for centuries before formal colonization of Americas Wanted what Spain had: riches, gold, silver Found out that it was harder than it looked: Very little gold and silver in N. America Hostile native populations, less-densely populated, large wilderness they could flee into Hostile environment (experience of first settlers in Chesapeake and New England?)

The Chesapeake Problems and Developments, 1607-1650

First English Settlements in the Chesapeake, 1607-1652 Jamestown, 1607 English settled in Powhatan territories

The Chesapeake: Environmental Factors Jamestown was settled in horrible spot – good for protection and water travel, bad for living Hot and humid Swampy Tidal waters: mixture of fresh and saltwater, bacteria, fecal matter, unfit for human consumption Disease vector: climate, water, mosquitoes, human and animal waste

The Chesapeake: Native Americans Algonquian tribes dominated eastern woodlands from Canada to Virginia Paramount Chief Powhatan dominated Chesapeake region What options were available to English at Jamestown? How did English goals, ideals, and preconceptions of colonization affect the outcome?

Native American and British Settlements, early 1600s

Comparison: Native & French Relations A different model than N.A.-English relations Based on the fur trade – after 1608, the French had est. fur trading posts in Quebec and along the St. Lawrence River Missionaries – sent to convert natives, lived with them French had to work and live with native groups Learned customs, language to achieve their ends Intermarriage Trade as center of relationship – search for common ground, fair trade, and respect Creation of “middle ground” – balance of power, maintenance of relationships and respect over time

John White’s Watercolors English scientist and artist at Roanoke Colony, 1585 Watercolors documented Native American – Algonquin – life A Road Not Taken? Depicted Native Americans in realistic manner, not idealized or caricatured Depictions show respect for and interest in native life and customs

English-Native American Relations Different than French-Indian relations British only used trade relations when it suited them – when they needed corn to survive first few years Broke agreements and raided Algonquin towns Distrust and animosity grew Native attacks on Roanoke Colony and Jamestown after initial English violence Three wars between 1610 and 1646

English Mishaps Bad choice of settlement site Too many explorers, wealthy, tradesmen with little to know willpower to grow crops Dependence on Powhatan Indians who didn’t want them there Bad luck: harsh winters, hot summers, drought Malnutrition, disease, laziness Between April and Sept., half of 104 original settlers were dead; only 38 alive by following spring

King Tobacco English searched for way to make colony lucrative and successful John Rolfe bred new type of tobacco – gained English and European markets Tobacco Fever - Frenzy to buy land in Chesapeake for tobacco, to sell as much as possible The first American get-rich scheme Virginia Co. gave land to stockholders and those who settled in Virginia Turned to indentured servants for labor (think about Hakluyt’s argument from earlier) Tobacco Economy spurred population growth through immigration and natural increase

Indentured Servitude

Curing, airing, and storing of Tobacco

Growing Inequality Inequalities of wealth and power developed quickly in the Chesapeake Reflected in land ownership patterns – wealthy snatched up best lands near water Wealthy: more land, close to water, lower transport costs = more tobacco, more profits Indentured servants lacked wealth and power Indentured servants mistreated, beaten, worked to death in hot, humid, backbreaking labor Terms of service could be extended for minor infractions, pregnancy

Tobacco Economy Dictated Land Use and Settlement Patterns

Great Chain of Being God Angels Mortals (diff. levels of humans) Birds Fishes Mammals Plants

New Class Relations in America Main question: How did American context affect class relations? Paternal relations in England – the Great Chain of Being Traditional class relations: royalty, aristocracy, peasantry – supposedly unchanging But new wealth in America = new social classes How did new economy affect class relations? What conflicts and how were they worked out? Who would have power in America if there was no settled aristocracy or king present?

Future Topics and Themes Ongoing issues of power, wealth, land Class issues and conflicts Indentured servitude and the white poor Servitude to Slavery Political rights – who gets them?

Links Link to newspaper article on John White watercolors Link to British Museum online exhibit of White’s watercolors 3D Virtual Algonquin Village Virtual Jamestown Site (with contracts of indenture, maps, etc.) John White Watercolors , Fort Raleigh, NPS