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Early American History • Leif Ericson discovers Vinland (New England) around 1000 a.d. • In 1492, an Italian sailor, on a Spanish expedition, discovers Hispaniola, and the rest is history. Migration to the Americas Archaeologists have unearthed remains pointing to the arrival of humans in America at about 35,000 B.C. Scientists generally agree that the first inhabitants of the Americas were nomadic travelers from Siberia. These peoples traversed an ancient land bridge which connected northeast Asia with Alaska. Migration routes Within a few thousand years they had populated the entire Western hemisphere Precolumbian America The Aztec people of present-day Mexico numbered about 20 million in 1492. The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan later became Mexico City. Aztec Empire North America before the Conquest • Long history of Native American nations & societies • There were a variety of Native American societies before European contact • Recently, scholars have estimated that the precontact population of America north of the Rio Grande stood at about 4 million. • Native American societies were experiencing many changes on the eve of European colonization Population Density in 1492 Native American vs. European • Europeans arrived with many preconceived notions of Native Americans • EUROPEAN • INDIAN • Civilized • Savage • Christian • Heathen • Developed • Primitive • Ordered • Disorder/Chaos • Reason/Logic • Base/Instinctive • Laws of Society • Laws of Nature • Productive • Unproductive Colonial Outposts 1550-1650 •Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and England establish settlements in North America •Renaissance, Reformation and Nationalism created bitter European Rivalries and fueled social change in Europe and the “new” world. •Conversion of Indian peoples was competitive in the context of the reformation and counter reformation Different attempts at colonization in 16th century • Economic distress, civil disorder, plague, and Renaissance culture encouraged impulses to expand into the New World. • Spain had began colonizing America in search for gold and for missionary purposes • France was rent with civil and religious wars • England was struggling with the Reformation and its consequent political turmoil. Columbus’s Four Voyages Spanish Expeditions in North America Spain’s Northern Frontier Composed of the present-day Sun Belt of the United States: Texas Florida New Mexico Arizona California Netherland Dutch exploration and settlement was much like the French—few people and little support from the crown in Europe Gave almost the entire responsibility of settlement not to the priests or to military but to a private, for profit company New Netherland was protestant, therefore no Catholic orders of friars or priests were present New France Looks West • France was convulsed by a bitter civil war until 1598 • Samuel De Champlain was sent by the French Crown to create new outposts for France in search of profit—1608 founded Quebec • In 1604 and 1608, France established outposts in present-day Nova Scotia and Quebec. • Bitter skirmishes with the Iroquois set the tone for future colonial wars with an ongoing alliance of the English and Iroquois against the French. Conflict arises New France, comprised of the Mississippi Valley from the Great Lakes to New Orleans, was developed into an active series of trading posts and forts which threatened to pin the English to the Atlantic coast. The growth of French strength brought them into conflict with the British on several occasions; King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, Seven Years’ War. French North Americ a 16081763 England also Looks West THREE FACTORS ENCOURAGING ENGLISH COLONIZATION •Political – English Civil War – Opposition to Spanish increasing World domination •Economic/Demographic – Rising Prices and Increased Population •Religious – The Reformation and Rise of Puritanism Political reasons • Stop further Spanish expansion in the New World • Stop further spread of Catholicism in the New World • Profit • Prevent Spain from Dominating Europe - 1588 and the defeat of the Spanish Armada Economic Motives for Colonization • Social safety valve – a dumping ground for the English poor • A place to produce commodities for the English economy • Restore economic and social stability at home Structure of English Society •THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING • Every person and thing had its appointed place on Earth and in the social order • Described society as it was and justified social inequality as God-given • Was instrumental in organizing the “types of Mankind” along a hierarchical order. Changes to the Great Chain of Being • Aristocrats saw their fortunes decrease • Gentry and small farmers saw their wealth increase • The poor peasants faced even bleaker times as food became more expensive • System of deference and paternalism breaks down Economic Changes in England •Rising Prices caused by influx of Spanish Gold inflation •Rising population - English population grew from 2.5 million in 1520 to about 5 million in 1680 •Caused a sharp rise in food prices •Supply could not keep up with demand • England’s first attempts at American colonization were weak and unprofitable. Indentured Servitude •Primary source of labor in 17th century Virginia •Bound for a set number of years - Not hereditary - Mostly of a voluntary nature • Labor was enslaved, but not the person •High mortality rates Roanoke •Sir Walter Raleigh •Sent 117 Colonists to Roanoke Island in N.C. In 1585. •Commander Ralph Lane •Colonists mistreated Native Americans •Colony disappeared after one year • Eastern coast of North America is named Virginia, after the Virgin Queen Jamestown: 1607 • The Jamestown colony was a joint-stock venture of the King of England and the Virginia Company of England. • 144 Settlers • Nearly all from upper classes • John Smith • Powhatan •“Starving Time” JAMESTOWN CHIEF POWHATAN Religious reasons for colonization •Those internal to English Society •Those external to English society The Reformation • Martin Luther • Priesthood of all believers • No need for an intermediary • Print the Bible so all can read it • “Justification” by faith alone • Salvation as a gift from God • We could not influence our salvation Protestantism in England • King Henry VIII – 1533 • Wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon • Pope refused to grant him a divorce • Henry then broke away from the Church and created the Church of England • Appropriated all Catholic properties – This new church very similar to the Catholic Church The Puritans •The “Hottest Sort of Protestants” •Followers of John Calvin •Believed man to be innately depraved and evil • They stressed hard work as a primary method of serving God Why Puritans Left •Felt that God was going to unleash his wrath against England •Faced increasing hostility from the King. •In 1629, Charles I dissolved Parliament – a body in which the Puritans enjoyed some power. •Led to English Civil War in 1642. Forces of Parliament battled those of the King The Covenant • An agreement between God and every nation and people • They would abide by his law and he in turn would protect them • Purpose of government was to carry out this sacred agreement with God • People were to make sure their governors stayed true to this task. • If not, they were to rebel and replace them Dilemmas of Puritanism •How do you build a “pure” church if you can never know for sure if you are among the few that are saved? •If it does not matter how you act – in that either you are going to heaven or not – then why act “good” at all? Dilemmas Solved •The conversion experience separated the saved from the damned •Although acting “good” or moral did not lead to salvation, it was an indication that one may be saved – for God had given you the strength to resist evil Community Life • They went over in family units • Groups of men, often from same village in England, applied for land communally • Widespread, though not equal, ownership of property • Organized around town center • Church also center of community life Two Groups of Puritans • Separating Puritans: England is going to hell – Led by William Bradford and settled Plymouth Colony in 1620 – Did not think that England could be saved — Men of little education • Non-separating Puritans: Must leave England to save it – led by John Winthrop and settled Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 — Many were educated (clergymen) or wealthy (Members of Parliament, etc.) The Separating Puritans • Organized Plymouth Colony in 1620 • Believed the Church of England and England were beyond salvation • God ready to unleash his wrath against the English • Decided they must withdraw from the world of sin The Mayflower Expedition •In 1608 migrated to Holland to escape religious persecution •The “Pilgrim Fathers” arrived in Cape Cod on November 19th •Landed at Plymouth in December 1620 •Established a colony following the terms of the Mayflower Compact. •The colony survived the first winters thanks to the leadership of William Bradford The Non-Separating Puritans • Could not escape the world of sin • The Church and England were not beyond salvation • Duty to reform and purify them • God would hold them responsible too – if they did not attempt this reform • The only way to save England, though, was by leaving it • Needed to Separate without Separating John Winthrop • Non-Separating Puritan • Involved in the wool trade and government work • Governor of Massachusetts Bay Company • They settled in Boston The Suppression of Dissent • Roger Williams – An avowed separatist – Believed only the saved should be allowed in churches – Questioned Puritan rights to Native American land – Believed the state should not punish breaches of the first four commandments – First articulation of separation of church and state – Banished to Providence, RI in 1636 Anne Hutchinson • Could be considered the first American feminist • Claimed that women should be admitted to meetings • Began holding meetings at her own house • Was exiled from the colony The Conquistadors’ Onslaught at Tenochtitlan Within a single generation after the death of Columbus, Spain had conquered most of the New World. Spain was motivated by religion, nationalist pride, and dreams of personal enrichment. Spain was lucky—they found treasure enough to justify their investment