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Lecture 2
The New England, Middle & Southern Colonies
Main Idea: Upon the success of the Jamestown colony, England, over a period of
approximately 125 years, establishes thirteen colonies that will eventually rebel against
the governmental policies of King George III.
Pilgrims
A congregation of separatists who in 1620, founded the Plymouth Colony, the second
permanent British colony in North America.
Puritans
A religious group, sometimes called separatists, that wanted to “purify” the Church of
England from some of the lingering ways of the Catholic Church, even though
Catholicism was no longer the official religion of England.
New England
By 1700, there were more than 93,000 people living a fairly good life in New England.
Plymouth Colony
The colony founded by the Pilgrims in 1620 (associated with today’s Thanksgiving
Feast).
William Bradford
One of the men who drew up the Mayflower Compact. Between the years 1621 – 1656,
he was elected governor of the Plymouth Colony 30 times. He helped create a
government in which people guided their own affairs.
John Winthrop
The leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Sought to create a moral society and
establish this colony as an example for others to follow. Winthrop and the Puritans of
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Massachusetts Bay were not tolerant of other religious beliefs. By law, everyone in
Massachusetts Bay was required to attend the Puritan Church and to pay taxes to
support it.
Connecticut
Founded by Thomas Hooker, a Puritan minister. In the mid 1630s, he led a group of
settlers to new land, south of Massachusetts, to set up the colony of Connecticut.
Maine
Settled by Puritans who came from Massachusetts in the mid-1630s.
New Hampshire
Also settled by Puritans who migrated northward from Massachusetts. New Hampshire
became a separate colony in 1679.
Rhode Island
Established when Roger Williams broke from the strict Puritanical practices of
Massachusetts. He moved to Rhode Island and set up his own colony in which
religious freedom was guaranteed to all who would come.
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Americans from Rhode Island to Maine in an attempt to drive the settlers out. The
fighting lasted close to a year. Twenty towns were destroyed and about 2,000 settlers
were killed. It is estimate that about 4,000 Native Americans lost their lives. The war
ended with Metacom’s death.
New York
In 1664, England’s King Charles II declared that the entire region of the Dutch colonies
belonged to his brother, the Duke of York. The English sent ships and soldiers to the
area, and the Dutch were forced to give up New Netherland. Once under English
control, the name was changed to New York. New York became a proprietary colony.
New Jersey
Part of the Duke of York’s charter. By 1702 two Jersey tracts were merged into one
single royal colony.
Proprietary Colony
A colony granted by a king or queen to an individual or group who could make rules or
laws as they saw fit. Initially, all the middle colonies were proprietary colonies.
Delaware
Established by the Swedes, taken over by the Dutch and then taken over by the
England’s Duke of York. The Duke of York turned Delaware over to William Penn to
manage.
Virginia
In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh sent a small reconnaissance fleet to the Outer Banks of
present day North Carolina. They returned with a positive report that included a
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description of “most gentle, loving and faithful Indians.” Raleigh named this new land
Virginia, after Queen Elizabeth I, who was sometimes referred to as the “Virgin Queen.”
Joint-Stock Companies
In 1605, two English companies were formed; the Virginia Company of London, and
the Plymouth Company. These companies were funded by investors who would put
up money in return for shares of stock in the company (which they hoped would
increase in value). We call companies that raised money in this fashion, joint-stock
companies.
The Virginia Company was granted a charter to colonize southern Virginia, while the
Plymouth Company was given rights to develop in northern Virginia.
Jamestown, Virgina – In December, 1606, 144 settlers, including the wealthy, as well
as the poor (who would have to go over as indentured servants), boarded three ships,
the Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Godspeed. Thirty-nine people perished on
the way. Consequently, the colony of Jamestown was established with the remaining
105 settlers. Building a triangular fort at the mouth of a river that they named the James
(in honor of their King James), the colony was officially established in May, 1607.
Jamestown became the first successful English colony in North America.
Initially, half of the Jamestown settlers died from sicknesses, including malaria. The
settlers sought help from the local Native Americans, and received it. For Jamestown,
the year 1609 was called “the starving time.”
During this bleak time, Captain John Smith took charge of the colony, and saved many
people from dying of starvation. He set down the rule that if you don’t work, you don’t
eat!
Captain Smith was able to get on friendly terms with the Indian chief, Powhatan.
Through his relationship with Powhatan, he was able to get some very badly needed
food, mainly corn and yams, for the settlers.
After the “starving period,” the colony began farming tobacco. The primary labor force
for this endeavor was indentured servants.
Pocahontas – Even though the nearby Indians helped the settlers of Jamestown, the
relationship was somewhat strained. A war could have broken out at any time. In 1613
Captain Samuel Argall kidnapped Powhatan’s daughter, Pocahontas, and took her to
Jamestown as a hostage. Surprisingly, she learned the language and the culture of the
English and married tobacco planter John Rolfe, in 1614. This marriage resulted in
eight years of peace between the Jamestown settlers and the Native Americans, which
helped Jamestown to grow and prosper, mainly through its cultivation of tobacco.
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Maryland
Was first settled in 1634, as a haven for Catholics who had been persecuted in England.
In addition to the Catholic settlers, the population of Maryland also included a number of
Puritans. As the result, the Maryland Toleration Act was passed to protect Catholics
from persecution in Maryland. The early economy was based upon tobacco plantations
and slave labor.
Carolina
Originally a very large plot of land that King Charles II gave to a group of English
noblemen, in 1663. It was later split into North and South Carolina in 1712. Shortly
after this split, both Carolinas became Royal colonies. The colonies of the Carolinas
thrived on tobacco production and trade with Native Americans.
Georgia
Set up as a proprietary colony in 1732, it was managed by a group of trustees led by
James Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe established Georgia as a place to send English who
had been jailed because they could not pay their debts. The Oglethorpe group
managed Georgia in this way for 20 years. Initially Catholics were barred from residing
in Georgia, liquor was prohibited and slavery was not allowed. Eventually, the
Oglethorpe group gave Georgia back to the King, and it became a royal colony.
New England
Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine
Middle Colonies
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania & Delaware
Southern Colonies
Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia
- End of Lecture -
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