7 themes (Unit 2)

Identity – What were the chief similarities and differences among the develop of English, Spanish, Dutch, and French colonies in America?

The english were by far the harshest in their treatment with the native population. Within the first couple of years the English used the natives for trade for food, and once they were self reliant the English had no use for the natives. Their immune systems were to weak to be enslaved and fresh land for tobacco, the cash crop, was needed. So the English pushed the natives off their homeland and committed war against them.(Ex: King Philip's War). The Spanish were probably the second harshest against the natives. They conquered and defeated the natives, but also had them assimilate into their lifestyle. The wanting of gold influenced the Spanish so they enslaved the natives to find gold for them. Also, because part of the Spanish reason for exploration was to expand christianity the attempt at civilization and converting natives into christians made the natives seem less like savages and more like people to the europeans. The dutch and French colonies treated the native population very similarly. They were both trading colonies that did not encroach very far onto the land. Also, they had to maintain good relationships with the Native Americans in order to trade with them so they did not enslave or murder  nearly as bad as their European counterparts. 

Work, Exchange, and Technology – How did distinct economic systems, most notably a slavery system based on African labor, develop in British North America?  What was their effect on emerging cultural and regional differences?

John Rolfe created a form of tobacco that became a sensation in Europe. This provided a cash crop for Virginia. Many planters came over and began harvesting the leafy plant all over Virginia. The Tobacco, however, took up lots of space, and required quite a bit of labor. In 1619 the first shipment of 20 African American slaves rolled into Jamestown. It did not become a sensation very quickly, but this was the beginning. Originally the colonists used white indentured servants that would work for them for about seven years in return for payment for their passage from the old world to the new world. There was a catch, however, they were required to be given a parcel of land at the end of their servitude. This was all fine and dandy for the first wave of white indentured, but as more and more white indentured servants became free and wanting of land, and as the good land was getting gobbled up, people became increasingly unsettled. Then two things happened Bacon's Rebellion took place and the economy in England began to turn around. Bacon's rebellion was the tipping point that made English colonists realise that it would not be sustainable to continue white indentured servitude. England's economic return also provided less people from coming over. So where would the labor come from? They looked to the West indies where Europeans had been growing sugar for years with the help of slaves. Thus African American slaves were imported once again into the colonies. Once slavery was established, in order to maintain slaves and white workers, racial superiority was introduced. This made it so that the white peasant farmers would not team up with the black slaves and revolt against the government. 

The southern and some middle colonies all had a cash crop (tobacco or rice were the primary ones). These crops required a lot of land and a lot of labor. The Northern colonies, however, did not have a cash crop. They were there primarily for religious and political freedom, not profit. This caused the southern/middle colonies to require slavery, but not so much in the North.

Peopling – Why did various colonists go to the New World?  How did the increasing integration of the Atlantic world affect the movement of peoples between its different regions?

Colonists went to the new world for the three G's: God, Gold, and Glory. 

Politics and Power – In what ways did the British government seek to exert control over its American colonies in the 17^th and 18^th centuries?

Navigation Acts. (1650-1753) These Acts required British colonies in North America to trade only with Britain for certain goods and the colonies could only use British ports and only use British ships. 

America in the World – How did competition between European empires around the world affect relations among the various peoples in North America?

Competition between Spain and England made England create Georgia. This provided a bumper between the profitable Carolina colonies and the enemy of Spain. It, along with all other English movements into North America, boosted the native population out of their home land creating tension and resentment between the two groups. 

Environment and Geography – How and why did the English American colonies develop into distinct regions?  

The Northern colonies were very rocky and difficult to grow simply enough to food to survive, let alone export. The southern/middle colonies, however, had great soil and plenty of water that made cash crops such as tobacco and rice thrive.