Overview
This lecture reviews 50 essential facts about Colonial America, focusing on the founding, development, geography, key events, and important people of the 13 colonies before the American Revolution.
Early English Colonies
- Roanoke was the first English attempt at a colony (1587) but mysteriously failed.
- Jamestown (1607) was the first successful English colony, led by John Smith and saved economically by tobacco (cash crop) grown by John Rolfe.
- The House of Burgesses was the first representative government in the English colonies.
New England Colonies
- Pilgrims (Separatists) founded Plymouth in 1620 seeking religious freedom and created the Mayflower Compact for self-government.
- Squanto helped the Plymouth settlers adapt and survive, leading to the first Thanksgiving.
- Puritans founded Massachusetts Bay Colony aiming to be a "city upon a hill"; practiced self-government via the General Court.
- The Great Migration (1620s-1640s) brought about 20,000 Puritans to New England.
- Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams for religious tolerance; Anne Hutchinson was banished for preaching.
- Connecticut had the Fundamental Orders, the first written constitution in the colonies.
- King Philip's War was a major conflict between Native Americans and colonists.
Middle Colonies
- Middle Colonies: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware; known as breadbasket colonies for wheat production and diversity.
- New York was originally Dutch (New Amsterdam); became English in 1664.
- Pennsylvania founded by William Penn as a haven for Quakers and religious equality.
- Delaware originally settled by Swedes, became separate from Pennsylvania.
Southern Colonies
- Southern Colonies: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia; focused on agriculture and cash crops.
- Maryland founded for Catholics, passed Maryland Toleration Act granting limited religious freedom.
- Mason-Dixon Line established the boundary between North and South colonies.
- Bacon's Rebellion (1676) was an uprising by poor settlers in Virginia.
- South Carolina excelled in agriculture (cotton, indigo), with Charleston as a major port.
- Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe as a refuge for debtors and a buffer against Spanish Florida.
Economy, Labor, and Trade
- Indentured servants worked for passage, room, and board in return for years of labor.
- African slaves arrived in 1619 and became central to plantation economy.
- Triangle Trade connected the colonies, Europe, and Africa in trade of raw materials, manufactured goods, and slaves.
- Mercantilism guided economic policy; Navigation Acts required colonial trade to benefit England.
Types of Colonies and Government
- Colony: Area controlled and settled by another country.
- Charter colonies: Self-governed (e.g., Connecticut, Rhode Island).
- Proprietary colonies: Owned and governed by individuals/grantees (e.g., Maryland, Delaware).
- Royal colonies: Controlled directly by the king (e.g., New York, Virginia, Massachusetts).
Social and Cultural Developments
- Salem Witch Trials (1692-93) exposed intolerance in Puritan society.
- The Great Awakening (1720s-1740s) was a religious revival that increased religious diversity.
- Peter Zenger's trial established early freedom of the press.
- Iroquois Confederacy was a powerful alliance of Native American tribes in New York.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cash crop — A crop grown for sale rather than for use by the grower.
- Mayflower Compact — Agreement for self-government signed by the Plymouth colonists.
- Indentured servant — Person who agreed to work for a period in exchange for passage to America.
- Mercantilism — Economic theory that a nation's strength comes from controlling trade and wealth.
- Charter colony — Colony governed by settlers with a charter allowing self-government.
- Proprietary colony — Colony granted to individuals or groups with governing rights.
- Royal colony — Colony directly controlled by the British Crown.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review colonial regions, important individuals, and key events for the test.
- Study the differences between colony types and their governments.
- Read about major conflicts (e.g., King Philip's War, Bacon's Rebellion) and their impacts.