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Early English Settlements

Explore the reasons behind the establishment of Jamestown and Plymouth, from economic motivations to religious freedom. Learn about the challenges, leaders, and economic activities that shaped these early settlements in the context of England's readiness for colonies. Discover the political developments, such as the Mayflower Compact and House of Burgesses, that laid the foundation for governance in the New World.

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Early English Settlements

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  1. Early English Settlements Jamestown & Plymouth

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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”

  6. 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

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