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Early English Settlements. Jamestown & Plymouth. Why Now? . England is ready for colonies After 1588, naval power recognized Increasing population + economic depression Inc. desire for economic opportunity in Americas Development of joint-stock companies. Jamestown (1607).
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Early English Settlements Jamestown & Plymouth
Why Now? • England is ready for colonies • After 1588, naval power recognized • Increasing population + economic depression • Inc. desire for economic opportunity in Americas • Development of joint-stock companies
Jamestown (1607) • James I charters VA Company to establish Jamestown • Lots of issues • Chose swampy area • Class issues • Upper class gentlemen refuse to work • Gold-seeking adventurers • John Smith – Strong mil. Leadership • John Rolfe – est. tobacco industry • Leads to financial prosperity • BUT needs labor • Not enough indentured servants coming in, so after 1619, mix of voluntary (indentured servants) and involuntary (slave) labor • VA Company goes bankrupt in 1624 VA becomes 1st royal colony
Plymouth (1620) • PURITANS • Wanted to “purify” Anglican church of Catholic influences; simplify services • Infl. By Calvin (predestination) • James I saw them as a threat • Some become separatists & leave England • Go to Netherlands (Holland) • Then decide to go to Americas • 1620 – lv. On board Mayflower • Under contract with VA Company • Fewer than ½ were Puritans (rest had economic motives) • Capt Miles Standish – military leadership • Gov. Wm. Bradford – political leadership • Fish, furs, & timber primary economic commodities
Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) • Under Charles I, persecution of Puritans • 1629 new group of Puritans get new charter for Massachusetts Bay Company • 1630 ~1000 led by J. Winthrop show up & create new colony (Boston, et al) • Pilgrims vs. Puritans • Civil War in England pushes about 15,000 more to Mass. Bay • Called the “Great Migration”
Early Politics • Mayflower Compact • Justify gov’t since they landed in wrong spot • Majority rule (sort of) • Written doc. That lays outs powers and duties of gov’t • House of Burgesses (1619) • Attempt to make colonists feel like they have the same rights that they had in England • 1st representative assembly in New World • Mass. Bay elections • Male Church members had right to elect leaders • OVERALL • Very limited • Col. Governors had huge powers • Limited to land owners, males