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English Colonization: Intro to the Thirteen Colonies. After Columbus’s initial discovery and voyages, Spain continued to explore and claim territory in the New World. Eventually, the English decided to challenge Spain’s supremacy and attempted to establish their own colonies.
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After Columbus’s initial discovery and voyages, Spain continued to explore and claim territory in the New World. • Eventually, the English decided to challenge Spain’s supremacy and attempted to establish their own colonies.
By the middle of the 16th century, Spain had established a significant empire in the Americas and France was beginning to dominate trade in furs. • In the late 16th century, it was recognized by the monarchy that expansion of the English empire was necessary. Establishing colonies could: • provide bases to attack Spanish fleets; • Offer new markets for English goods; • Provide a destination for “loiterers and idle vagabonds” who would otherwise live in poverty in England; • Most importantly, however, establishing colonies in America would show the world that England under Elizabeth I and her successors was a true maritime power.
England vs. Spain! • By the 1570s, Queen Elizabeth I was concerned with Spain’s increasingly global influence • Fearful of an open confrontation with Spain, she gave her unofficial approval to piracy against Spanish ships and settlements • Men such as Sir Francis Drake cruised the shores of Spanish America stealing from ships, settlements and people, however they did not attempt to colonize because the Spanish were still the strongest power.
Watch Out! Here Comes the Armada! • Eventually Spain, seeking revenge against England for attacks on her colonies, dispatched her huge fleet of ships known as the Spanish Armada against England’s fleet • King Philip II felt he had to destroy the English fleet to solve the problem
Defeat of the Armada! • The English fleet was faster and pounded the huge Galleons (ships) with artillery before they could get close enough to board the smaller vessels • Badly damaged in the battle, the fleet was forced up through the English Channel into the North Sea where it was crippled even more by a fierce storm • In a single battle, Spain lost almost all of her naval forces and English colonization of the Americas was in the clear
Types of Colonies Corporate (Charter) Colony • joint stock company (one where shares were sold to investors, providing money for the ventures) requests a charter from the King to establish a colony • In return, each shareowner received a portion of the venture's profits. Consequently, each explorer was motivated to find whatever riches they could • Charter outlines how the colony can be ruled, however essentially the company can rule as it sees fit • Example: Virginia Proprietary Colony • King grants territory to person/group • the sole owner(s) had the right to parcel out land • could make their own laws – act as absolute rulers • Example: Maryland
Types of Colonies Royal Colonies • as colonies grew and prospered, the crown wanted a share of the profits • gradually the King took control – by 1730, only Pennsylvania and Maryland were still proprietary • colonists usually preferred royal control • – English army and navy would protect royal colonies better • – royal colonies had more political power • the King appointed a governor and a council, eligible voters were elected to an assembly • the governor had control over trade, appointed judges but had to work with the council and assembly to pass laws • eventually, the assembly had the right to propose laws and approve salaries of the governor and officials
The First Colony was...Roanoke, or “The Lost Colony” • Roanoke Island, Virginia, in 1587 (near the coast of North Carolina) • The land was named “Virginia” in honour of the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. • Sir Walter Raleigh sent 117 settlers, however was unable to resupply the settlement until after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. • Upon their return to Roanoke in 1590, British ships found the settlement to be deserted. All that was left was the word “croatoan” carved into a tree. • The theories to explain the disappearance are that the settlers were killed by the Native Americans, that they assimilated with the natives, that they were killed by the Spanish, or that they tried to return to England on their own and died doing so. • To this day, the mystery of the “lost colony” has yet to be solved.
