Chapter 2 Review

The session reviews the previous week's topics on Spanish, French, Dutch, and indigenous American cultures. It then introduces Chapter 2, which focuses on English colonization in the Western Hemisphere, particularly pertinent to the future United States.

England was a secondary power in the 16th century compared to Spain. Key changes began with Henry VIII's decision to separate England from the Catholic Church, initiating the Protestant Reformation and establishing the Church of England (Anglican Church). This led to internal religious divisions and conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. The Protestant Reformation, influenced by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, challenged the Pope's authority and introduced concepts like predestination.

Queen Elizabeth I was the first to pursue colonization as an economic venture. Early attempts were led by Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert, resulting in failed settlements like those in Newfoundland and the mysterious Roanoke colony. England's late start in colonization was partly due to its preoccupation with battles in Ireland. Unlike the Spanish, who practiced 'inclusion' with Native Americans, the English generally practiced 'exclusion,' treating indigenous people similarly to the Irish. A significant social crisis in 16th-century England, marked by population explosion and wealth concentration, promoted the idea of the New World as a land of opportunity, especially for the working class seeking land and liberty.

The first permanent English settlement was Jamestown, established in 1607 as a joint-stock colony by the Virginia Company for economic gain. Early years were difficult due to lack of food and settlers unwilling to work. John Smith helped organize the colony, introducing a 'work for your food' system and establishing the House of Burgesses in 1619, the first elected assembly in colonial America. The Indian Uprising of 1622 by Opechancanough significantly impacted Jamestown, leading to Virginia becoming a royal colony. John Rolfe introduced a milder form of tobacco, which quickly became the major cash crop, transforming Virginia's economy and social structure, creating a land-owning elite.

Maryland was established as a proprietary colony and a refuge for Catholics, yet it also became dominated by a small aristocracy, with tobacco as its most important cash crop. Population growth in early Virginia was hindered by a lack of eligible women, leading to some expanded rights for women, such as dower rights, allowing them to inherit land upon their husbands' death.

The establishment of New England was heavily influenced by Puritans, who wanted to purify the Church of England, and Pilgrims (separatists), who sought to leave it entirely. Pilgrims, after a stay in the Netherlands, chartered the Mayflower and established Plymouth Colony in 1620, famously associated with the myth of the first Thanksgiving. The Massachusetts Bay Colony, founded in 1629 by merchants, saw a 'Great Migration' of thousands of families seeking religious freedom. Puritan culture in New England emphasized education (founding Harvard College in 1636) and religion, with a hierarchical society often giving preference to church members. Early forms of democracy were seen, though suffrage was limited to land-owning church members.

Puritan daily life involved specific customs, like living in clapboard homes, the origin of phrases like 'sleep tight' and 'saved by the bell'. Alcohol consumption was prevalent due to unsafe drinking water. Figures like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson challenged the authority of the church and were banished from the colony, highlighting the lack of separation between church and state. Conflicts like the Pequot War also arose over land.

The English Civil War (1640s) between King Charles I and Parliament (led by Oliver Cromwell) significantly impacted colonial ideas of liberty and freedom. Cromwell, a Puritan, overthrew the king but became an oppressive dictator himself. He established the first taxes on colonial America, such as the Navigation Act, to ensure English ships and merchants benefited from colonial trade, aiming to curb Dutch dominance in maritime commerce.

New England's economy differed greatly from Virginia's. New England had smaller, subsistence family farms due to less suitable land and harsher winters, resulting in a more equal distribution of wealth. Their industries included lumber and shipbuilding. Puritans saw no contradiction between piety and profit. This contrasts with Virginia's plantation society, dominated by tobacco and a small aristocracy. Understanding these religious, societal, and economic differences between the two colonies is crucial.

The session concludes by reminding students about important figures like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, the Pequot War, and the impact of the English Civil War on colonial perceptions of freedom. It also offers resources for reviewing the material online.