chapter 2: the first century of settlement in the colonial south captain john smith —from...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 2: The First Century of Settlement in
the Colonial South
Captain John Smith—from Powhatan’s viewpoint: a boastful bully
Powhatan’s strategy—use the “inferior” white tribe to his advantage—how?
An Indian village on the Chesapeake at the
time of the Jamestown Colony—simple,
totally functional, and semi-permanent.
An artist’s depiction of what Powhatan, leader of the Pamunkeys,
may or may not have looked like.
Captain John Smith: soldier, one-time slave in Turkey,
escapee, world adventurer, and self-promoter, but effective for Virginia.
Captain John Smith was the only survivor of a food-gathering party attacked by members of Powhatan’s tribe. The captive was to be executed when 13-year-old Pocahontas, Powhatan’s daughter, intervened to save his life. Some years later she warned settlers of an attack, saving many lives.
Pocahontas in a Europeanized portrait (bottom left) with more white characteristics than Indian. When 18, she became a Christian, taking the name Rebecca for her new life in white society.Soon she fell in love with and
married John Rolfe, had a son, Thomas, and in 1616 all
traveled to England where they were given an audience at the
royal court. As they prepared to return home, Pocahontas
became ill and died. She was buried in England at
Gravesend. At right is a probably more accurate
portrait. Rolfe left son in England, returned, remarried.
English Society on the ChesapeakeInstability of the southern colonies—rough start caused turn to slavery
Mercantilism—nations prosper by encouraging a favorable
“balance of trade”; colonies enable exports to dominate imports;
Virginia Company of London was a “joint stock company”
Jamestown’s problems—disease, “gentlemen,” bullied natives
Adam Smith, who developed the concept of “mercantilism.”
Jamestown, and (right) a scene from the desperate
“Starving Time.”
Key reforms—“headright” system, representative assembly (House of Burgesses), abolished martial law
Indentured servants—four to seven years, but used hard and death rate (40%) higher than Europe in epidemics
War with the confederacy—booming tobacco pressures Opechancanough’s people, leading to slaughter/investigation: royal colony
Decline in mortality rates—
tobacco prices level off,
workers driven less, more food
produced rather than all tobacco The Capitol building in Williamsburg where the
general assembly, called the House of Burgesses, met.
Opechancanough, maybe. Powhatan’s brother, he lead his last rebellion at age
100 in 1644, carried on a stretcher. Captured at the end of the two-year war, he was murdered by a resentful soldier.
Proprietary Colonies—monarchs gifts to loyal followers (Calverts): “manors,” “tenants,” and “quintrents”—Europe recreated (who needs it?)
The English Civil War—Parliament/Puritans vs. Monarchy; After Restoration: Navigation Acts to make sure colonies contributed—how?
An Anglican priest commends Charles I’s spirit to God at his execution at White Hall in London. Members of Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army look on and keep order. Charles wore two undershirts to his execution.
Charles Stuart (far left) was only 4’11” and much shorter after execution; Oliver Cromwell ruled as dictator till his death. After “Restoration,” his body was dug up, dragged through the streets, and head put on a pike.Charles II, son of the executed Charles I, his brother the
Duke of York (for whom New York would be named and who would later become the Catholic King James I), and Nell Gwynn, an actress who was one of Charles’s many mistresses, but perhaps his favorite.
Diminishing opportunities—big tobacco
pushed small farmers into dangerous frontier
Nathaniel Bacon—led little guys against
Indians, then Gov. Berkeley’s buddies
Growing stability—power sharing avoided conflicts
The lives of servants and slaves—originally, not much difference, but slavery soon seen economically
superior to indentured servitude
--Why?
Chesapeake Society in Crisis
Nathaniel Bacon William Berkeley
First slaves arrive in Virginia 1619. Eventually 13 million slaves would be
shipped to the Americas with one-third dying in route.
Effect of slave trade on Africa—
central part of commerce: corrupting
Middle Passage—shipboard ghastly;
estimated 1/3 of
13 million perished
—1st year in Americas
just as deadly
Racism—poor whites would not join with slaves in common interest
Opportunities for white settlers—lower taxes, vote, stable prices, new land, more women
End of Reading
From the Caribbean to the CarolinasTransformation of the Caribbean—disease, ecology transform islands
Caribbean sugar—riches greater than mainland colonies/but death
Slavery in the Caribbean—state of siege / seven uprisings: Carolina bound
North Carolina—relatively desolate w/ poor harbors
South Carolina–-magnet
Fundamental Constitutions—ideal/dead
Anthony Ashley Cooper, who wished to create ideal utopian society
under proprietary governor and hereditary
nobility.
(Above) Carolina’s Fundamental Constitutions; (Left) Charles Town house on Battery.
Yamasee War—Yamasee/Creeks v.
Cherokee/Whites: thank goodness for Cherokee
The end of proprietary rule—no protection:
now royal colony instead
Slavery in South Carolina—rice cultivation required
experienced slaves; importation brings population
ratio to 2 to 1; slave codes
James Oglethorpe—trustees for 21 yrs., then royal colony; Georgia to be haven for “worthy” poor: 50 acres, tools, year’s supplies
Utopian designs—Georgian resistance made ideals (500 acre restrictions, no slavery, liquor) pipe dreams—why?
Similarities among the plantation colonies—elements: 1) single staple crop, 2) slavery, 3) slave codes, 4) racism
Idealist James Oglethorpe
The Spanish BorderlandsSt Augustine and Santa Fe—drains;
missionaries kept them going
Mission communities—coexistence not English eradication or evacuation
Indian resistance—Pueblo Revolt under Pope evicted Spanish more
than decade; Serra led
missionary drive in
California
*Beyond the Black Legend--Yes or No?
Spanish fort at St. Augustine (above) in what is now Florida; and Taos
Pueblo (below) near Santa Fe.