The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons

1. The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons Section 1: Age of Exploration c. 1270-1600

2. Once Europeans come in contact with Asian goods, they want them more quickly! • Land routes = slooooowww • Kings/queens want more loot! • Better technology allows it. Why begin exploring?

3. Explorers can improve maps • Popular misconception: Most people knew the world was round; Columbus did not set sail to prove it wasn’t flat. • However, everyone thought the world was much smaller than it is (explorers didn’t know about the Americas). Oops! Why begin exploring?

4. They want a way to sail WEST and reach Asia (which is east of Europe). • Such a route would be much quicker. • A note about these “stupid” mistakes… • A note about the often cruel treatment toward natives and others… What are they thinking?!

5. They thought if you left going west… …you’d end up over in the East before long. So you can see why they were so surprised when America turned up and the world was larger than they thought! Example of an ancient world map

6. #1: Technology & animals • Guns, ships, horses, dogs, etc. (think Avatar) • #2: Disease • Natives haven’t seen cattle-bred diseases • #3: Geography • Alignment of Americas (N/S) vs. Europe (E/W) • Proximity of population/animals (disease again) • Distance between tribes (no one to help) • #4: Ignorance • Think Spanish are gods & trust them Why are native warriors so easily defeated?

7. Spain uses pueblos, presidios, and missions to Christianize natives • …which is why California has so many Spanish place names (San Diego, Los Angeles, etc.). • Many English explorers land in Canada and the Northeast • …which is why we have New England, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, etc. • Many French explorers land in Canada • …which is why they still speak French. Spanish/English/French influence on America

8. The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons Section 2: Rise of Modern Capitalism c. 1350-1600’s

9. Capitalism is a free-market system. • Competition encouraged between businesses. • Businesses privately owned, not government-controlled. • Purpose of capitalism = make money. • Capital means money. • People own shares of companies (stock, etc.) • One who participates in this system is called a capitalist. What is capitalism?

10. Before the 1600’s, most places are not defined as a country or a nation. • Most powerful places are cities or kingdoms. • As the world expands, cultures encounter one another. • This leads to larger, more powerful nations. • These nations want new ways to make $$! • Exploration is a great way to make $$! • But it costs a lot to send explorers… • How to pay for it? Hmmmmm… The Commercial Revolution

11. Initially rulers borrow from banks. • Eventually, people set up joint-stock companies. • Companies sell stock, shares of the company. • In this way, company raises little sums of money, but from LOTS of people. • If the company does well, so do the shareholders, so people want to invest. • If the company does poorly, each person is only out a little money. How does capitalism come about?

12. Soon such companies become very powerful and want to make more $$. • Entrepreneurs come up w/ ideas, get money, buy materials, and make their own businesses. • This is much riskier, but the entrepreneur gets to keep all his profits. • Because the work is done at home, the entrepreneurial system becomes known as the “cottage industry.” How does capitalism come about?

13. Mercantilism: idea that countries should make themselves rich by storing up bullion, gold & silver. • Many countries, esp. Spain, go to other lands to plunder their bullion. • Gold plundered through mercantilism & money raised through joint-stock companies & entrepreneurs lead to very, very rich empires (capitalists). • All these advancements together are called The Commercial Revolution. What is mercantilism?

14. What do you think happens when nations get rich? [discuss] • Life expectancy goes up • More babies survive • Overcrowding • More leisure time to go elsewhere • Demand for more material goods • What happens when rich nations encounter each other? [discuss] • Trade • Competition • War! Effects of capitalism

15. All these factors lead to colonialism, the belief that nations should control other lands through colonies. • A colony is a settlement of people in a new country controlled by their home country. • Colonies allow countries to expand to new lands, open up new trade, control more empires, and get more goods. • America was a French, Spanish, Dutch, and British colony. Colonialism

16. The Columbian Exchange(as in Columbus), is vast network of trade that opens up between Old World (Europe & West Asia) and New World (Americas, East Asia, parts of Africa). • What is “exchanged”? [discuss] • Look at pg. 96: Crops, food, gold, money, animals, practices, religion, language, etc. • Most important and unfortunate: slaves and diseases The Columbian Exchange

17. Once Europeans begin to grow crops in Caribbean, they need workers. • Originally they use Native Americans. • Africans are later preferred. • Between 1550 and 1870, 10-12 million Africans are transported from West Africa to Americas • Long, brutal voyage by ship is called “The Middle Passage.” The slave trade

18. The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons Section 3: The Enlightenment c. 17th-18th Century

19. The Enlightenmentis a time from 17th Century (1600’s) to c. 1800 when reason and careful analysis replace blind faith and Catholic Church as primary means of learning. What was the Enlightenment?

20. Greeks and Romans developed philosophy. • Greek philo (love) + sophia (wisdom) • Greeks developed democracy: each person votes directly on all laws and policies. • Greek dêmos (people) + krátos (power) • Romans set up republic: each person elects representatives to vote and conduct business. • Latin republica (public interest/affair) Ideas behind the Enlightenment

21. Note: The United States is not a direct democracy! • It’s a democratic republic (we have direct voting on some issues, but we primarily elect our leaders, who in turn vote for us). • Rome also came up w/ rule of law, which states that all laws apply to all equally. Ideas behind the Enlightenment

22. Jews/Christians believe God has a covenant, or binding agreement, between Himself & His people. • Covenant idea influences Enlightenment thinkers to make contracts between leaders and people. • Another important figure =Yeshua Bar Joseph. • Who’s he? [discuss] • Jesus (whose last name was not Christ!) • Christian values spread everywhere. Ideas behind the Enlightenment

23. Arab Muslims have huge influence on Enlightenment thinkers. • Medical, mathematical, and scholastic influence • Beginning of universities • Renaissance = rebirth (French renaissance means rebirth) of arts, science, culture, & knowledge. • Remember how capitalism made nations wealthy? • Now that they are wealthy, they can afford art, learning, science, and other ventures. Ideas behind the Enlightenment

24. Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther breaks from Catholic Church) lays the groundwork for people to question church authority. • Soon King Henry VIII takes power from Pope and forms Anglican Church (Church of England). • Puritans do not like Anglican Church under James I and want to purify it. • Pilgrims, who sail from England and land at Plymouth, Mass., are Puritans. Ideas behind the Enlightenment

25. Why do Puritans sail for America? • Dissatisfied w/ Anglican Church. • Disagree w/ absolute monarchy (king has total power). • 1688: English Parliament forces out James II and replaces him w/ William & Mary, his son-in-law and daughter. • William & Mary sign English Bill of Rights, guaranteeing certain rights to citizens. • Inspires our Bill of Rights. Ideas behind the Enlightenment

26. History of Limited Government • Magna Carta (1215): King doesn’t have absolute authority & must grant certain rights to citizens. • English Parliament: House of Lords/House of Commons. • People get representation • English Bill of Rights (1689): King has to grant all fair rights to Parliament. • Inspires American Bill of Rights • Virginia House of Burgesses (1619): First representative assembly in colonies. • Mayflower Compact (1620): Sets up direct democracy based on “just & equal” laws for all.

27. Not this John Locke. THIS John Locke. LOST Important thinker: John Locke!

28. Thomas Hobbes says absolute monarchy is best way to govern, since people will make life “nasty, brutish, and short.” • John Locke says govt. should be based on natural, God-given rights and answerable to the people. • Social contract: If govt. gets out of hand, people should be able to kick it out! • American colonists accept Locke’s ideas. • Do you agree? [discuss] Ideas behind the Enlightenment

29. Charles de Montesquieu writes that English government (Parliament) is best, b/c powers are divided. • Executive, legislative, & judicial branches. • Founding Fathers adopt these ideas. Ideas behind the Enlightenment

30. So…to review, when colonists settle in America, they bring w/ them… • 1. Ideas of limited govt. power • 2. Belief in natural rights for all people • 3. Democratic and republican ideals(people get a say in state affairs) • 4. Ideas of a divided government • 5. Philosophy and reason • 6. Contracts between powers and people • 7. Capitalism • How well did they do? [discuss] Ideas behind the Enlightenment

31. FIN