AP US History - Unit 2 Review (1607-1754)

Overview

• Focus on comparing European motives and methods in colonizing the Americas
• Part of a larger review packet for AP US History
• Explores societal structures before European arrival

European Colonization Approaches

Spanish Colonization

• Aimed to extract wealth via cash crops and mining gold/silver
• Subjugated and tried to convert natives to Christianity
• Introduced a caste system based on racial ancestry

French Colonization

• Focused on trade (fish and fur) rather than conquest
• Few settlers; established trading settlements like Quebec
• Formed alliances with Native Americans (e.g., Ojibway) through marriages
• Cultural exchanges benefited both French and Native Americans

Dutch Colonization

• Established New Amsterdam (now New York) as a trade hub
• Goals were mainly economic, with little interest in converting natives
• Attracted traders, merchants, fishermen, and farmers

British Colonization

• Motivated by economic opportunities, religious freedom, and improved living conditions
• Faced economic challenges due to wars, inflation, and the enclosure movement

British Colonial Settlements

Chesapeake Region

• Jamestown (1607): First permanent British settlement, financed by a joint-stock company
• Initially struggled with survival but thrived after tobacco cultivation
• Faced conflict with Native Americans, leading to Bacon's Rebellion

New England Colonies

• Settled by Pilgrims in 1620 seeking religious society
• Created family-based economies, faced initial hardships

West Indies and Southern Colonies

• British colonies in the Caribbean focused on tobacco and sugarcane
• Labor-intensive crops increased demand for African slaves
• Established strict laws to govern enslaved populations

Middle Colonies

• Diverse populations with thriving export economies (e.g., cereal crops)
• Pennsylvania founded on principles of religious freedom and negotiated land acquisition

Governance and Economy

Self-Governance

• Colonies had self-governing structures due to distance from Britain
• Examples include the Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses

Atlantic Trade System

• Global trade led to the triangular trade route
• Mercantilism dictated colonial trade, leading to the Navigation Acts

Slavery in the British Colonies

• Enslaved Africans brought via the Middle Passage
• Slavery widespread in colonies due to economic benefits
• Enslaved people resisted through covert and overt methods (e.g., Stono Rebellion)

Relationships with Native Americans

• Tensions due to land encroachment and violence
• Notable conflict: Metacom's War (King Philip's War)

Colonial Society Structure

Religion and Enlightenment

• Enlightenment emphasized rationalism, challenging traditional religious authority
• Introduced ideas of natural rights and government structure

Great Awakening

• Religious revival promoting Christian enthusiasm and challenging elite practices
• Fostered a common colonial identity and laid groundwork for revolution

Anglicization and Resistance

• Colonies adopted English-like structures but grew frustrated with British practices
• Example of resistance: Impressment riots in response to forced naval service

Conclusion

• Colonies began to resist British control, leading to eventual independence movements
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for AP US History success