English Colonies of North America

Lindsey MillerHistory 140

American Colonies: Ch 6 - Virginia

Queen lacked money to finance oversea colonies Licensed private adventurers to venture

overseas These were primarily well-connected

gentlemen from southwest countries of England

Such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins These adventurers were known as the “West

Country Men” Also designed the English assault on Spanish

empire Primary goals for going to America: Plant Christian religion, traffic, and to conquer Also reduce homelessness, crime, and poverty in

England

Promoters

Sir Francis Drake – One of the “West Country Men”

American Colonies: Ch 6 Virginia

• 1585:• Sir Walter Ralegh sent 100 colonist to settle on

Roanoke– A small island – Poor location due to shoals and sand that

made it difficult for English ships to land– Also had sandy infertile soil– Ultimately doomed to fail

• Colonist demand food from local Algonquian Indians– Chief refused eventually and was killed– Indians fled– Resulted in less food from the colonists since

maize was no longer being grown

o 1587 o Another group sent to colonize Roanokeo Leader: John Whiteo Returned to England for

supplieso When he returned in 1590

he found the settlement abandoned

Roanoke

American Colonies: Ch 6 Virginia

• English Colonists• 1607 – English wanted to

colonize at Chesapeake Bay after the failure of Roanoke

• This location had better harbors, fertile land, and navigable rivers

• Wanted to assimilate natives to English ways

• Thought Indians would supply them with foods

• Powhatan• Chief of 33 united Algonquian tribes• Indians were intrigued by the technology of the English• Powhatan wanted to contain and subject the colonists• When demanded too much for food, lashed out• Captured Captain John Smith• Released him after mock

execution ceremony thinking it would make Smith subordinate

•Smith returned to colonies and continued to harass Powhatan• Brutal to Indians

•Eventually Powhatan was forced to make peace

American Colonies: Ch 6 Virginia• Colonists began cultivating corn,

squash and beans– Needed a market crop

• 1616 - Learned how to raise tobacco– Large revenues gained from

taxing tobacco import– Consumers willing to pay high

prices for tobacco– Crop thrived in Virginia

environment– Sold in England for about 5 to 10

times as much as it cost to produce in Chesapeake

Tobacco

American Colonies: Ch 9 Puritans and Indians

Natives Tribes divided into different local bands

Each consisted of a few hundred people Had leading sachem, lesser sachems, shamans, and prestigious warriors

Had highly productive horticulture Grew different crops in the same fieldHad controlled fires to clear forest

Regular burnings diminished mice, fleas, and parasitesFertilized the forest floor

Labor was gender based Men

Hunted, fished, were in war, and made tools/weaponsWomen

Cared for children, built homes, gathered firewood, butchered animals, prepared meals, gathered shellfish, berries, roots and herbs

Planted, weeded, tended and harvested crops

American Colonies Ch 9 Puritans and Indians

• 1636• Conflict between New English and Indians

– English wanted Pequot Indians to pay heavy tribute in wampum, and give children up as hostages

– War was declared– English attacked and burned a

Pequot village• Spent rest of the year capturing

and killing remaining Pequot• Indians were not united, making

manipulation from English easy• 1670: Colonists outnumbered the Indians

of southern New England 3 to 1

Pequot War

Artist depiction of Pequot War

American Colonies: Ch 9 Puritans and Indians

• 1620-30s• Puritans concentrated on expanding rather than converting• 1640s• Reverend John Eliot took lead on mission to convert Indians

– Missions demanded Indians to give up their culture– Covert or die mentality

• Converting– Puritans believed first step was getting Indians to settle into communities– Made communities for them: Praying Towns– These towns were appealing to small and weak bands of Indians– These groups saw praying towns as last hope for preserving their group identification– In the towns had to abandon Algonquian names, body grease, and traditional sports– Had to learn long Puritan mode of work– Long days of agricultural labor– Rest and worship on the Sabbath

American Colonies: Ch 9 – Puritans and Indians

• King Philip’s War– Bloodiest Indian War– Each side had muskets

• 1675 – Indians destroyed 12 colonist towns in search for

revenge for the alienation of their land– Puritans felt compelled to kill Indians

• Began killing Indians in praying towns• 1676

– Colonist realize they cannot win without Indian allies– Turned into a civil war among Indians– Allies taught colonists how to avoid ambush and

track down rebels– Indian rebels ran out of food and ammunition

• Resistance collapsed, began surrendering• War devastated Puritan settlements and Indian villages

– Killed 1,000 English and 3,000 Indians