Geography and shaping the development of the British Colonies in the 1600’s
History is shaped by many intertwined factors that each affect the complex development of society. Although there are numerous elements that contribute to the evolution of a society, one factor in the development is the region's geography. The impact of geography is observed throughout the course of history and was a primary factor in shaping the development of the British colonies in North America in the 1600’s. With an emphasis on North America’s surrounding water, fertile land and weather, geography was a leading contributor in shaping the British colonies, specifically, as it relates to the growth in economy and lifespan.
Geography: The Atlantic Ocean
An important aspect of North America’s geography is the Atlantic Ocean. The economy of the British colonies was sculpted, in part, by the ocean. One example in which the geography of North America, specifically the Atlantic Ocean, affected the British colonies’ economy was the migration of people from England to North America. Initially, migration to North America was viewed as a profitable opportunity. In 1606, The Virginia Company of London was founded with the purpose of sending to Virginia “hundreds of poor and unemployed people as well as scores of skilled craft workers. These laborers were to serve the company for seven years in return for passage” (Davidson, et al 59). The initial migration across the Atlantic was a complete failure as only “60 of Jamestown’s 500 inhabitants lived through the winter of 1609-1610” (Daviston, et al 59). In response to this failure, The Virginia Company instituted reforms which transformed migration into a success. By 1642, the purpose of migration across the Atlantic developed into escaping religious persecution and creating an ordered society, resulting in an influx of 21,000 immigrants from 1630-1642 (Davidson, et al 89). Although the reason for migration to North America differed across circumstances, the way in which migration was accomplished was the same: passage across the Atlantic Ocean. North America’s geography created an opportunity for colonists to establish their own societies and create a robust economy through farming, labour and trading.
Another example in which the economy is affected by the Atlantic Ocean is the importance of the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage represented the horrific journey ranging from weeks to months, dependent on current and weather, across the Atlantic by several hundred African slaves at a time (Davidson, et al 67). After surviving the journey and reaching American ports, the slaves were involuntarily forced into providing labor which drove the expansion and success of the tobacco, sugar and rice industries. The slave driven labor economy in the British colonies (in particular Chesapeake) in the 1600’s was developed most notably by the geographical Middle Passage across the Atlantic Ocean.
Thirdly, the Atlantic Ocean contributed to the creation of regulations, which impacted the fragile economies of coastal colonies. These regulations, called Navigation Acts, were first imposed by British Parliament in the 1660’s. These acts developed the course of British colonies trade by restricting the export of certain goods only to England or other British ports. These restricted commodities “included sugar, tobacco, cotton, ginger, indigo (blue dye), and eventually rice” (Davidson, et al 62). By 1663, it was compulsory that all exported commodities were to pass through England. To further regulate the trading abilities of British colonies, custom officials enforced a tariff and actively monitored compliance with regulations (Davidson, et al 62). The regulation arising out of the use of the Atlantic Ocean affected the economy and income of merchants and manufacturers across British colonies as “in an effort to consolidate its empire, England had unintentionally worsened the economic and social difficulties of the Chesapeake society” (Davidson, et al 62).
In summary, the Atlantic Ocean played a crucial role in the development of the economy of British colonies by the migration routes, Middle Passage and Navigation Acts.
Geography: Fertile land
North America’s abundance of fertile land contributed to the growth of the economy of the British colonies. One example in which fertile land contributed to the expansion of British colonies was the claiming of land from Indians, specifically the remaining Powhatan confederacy. The land occupied by the Powhatan confederacy was eyeballed by the British for it’s fertile land, especially it’s corn fields and potential room for growth for the evolving tobacco industry. The Powhatan confederacy recognized this threat and attacked the British killing “about a quarter of Virginia’s colonial population” (Davidson, et al 60). In response to the attack on white settlers, “English retaliation cut down an entire generation of young Indian men and won the colonists hundreds of thousands more acres for tobacco” (Davidson, et al 60). This seizure of new fertile land permitted the expansion of the tobacco industry. This is an example how the geography of North America, its fertile land, contributed to the expansion of land for the British colonies and the expansion of its evolving economy.
Secondly, fertile land in the Caribbean contributed to the expansion of the British colonies and economy. The English and Spanish had been battling for access to the Caribbean since the 1560’s. Englishmen had traded illegally, invaded towns and ships in search of silver. Overtime, Spain’s hold on the West Indies weakened, which permitted the British to access the fertile land held by the Spaniards (Davidson, et al 69). After British colonization, the Caribbean was overcome with approximately 30,000 immigrants from the British Isles who established crude outposts on surrounding islands and began to export a “poor quality of tobacco” (Davidson, et al 69). There was a major shift away from the production of tobacco when the Dutch introduced sugar cane cultivation and African slaves to work on sugar plantations. With “sugar plantations and slave labor rapidly spread(ing)” (Davidson, et al 70), the British colonies economy was transformed as the demand for sugar intensified. The fertile land of the Caribbean created an opportunity for British expansion and impacted the economy of the evolving British colonies as the focus shifted in the Caribbean to the production of sugar.
Another example in which North America’s fertile land impacted the expansion of British colonies and the development of the British economy can be seen by the Quaker expansion into Pennsylvania. Sir William Penn founded the Society of Friends in the 1670’s. These individuals called themselves Quakers and had unorthodox beliefs for this time period. For instance “they dressed in a deliberately plain and severe manner. They withheld from their social superiors the customary marks of respect, such as bowing, kneeling, and removing their hats” Quaker’s also “refused to swear oaths or to make war” and “they allowed women public roles of religious leadership” (Davidson, et al 95). As a result of Sir William Penn belonging to England’s elite, King Charles II graciously allocated him land between New Jersey and Maryland. Penn “envisioned that his proprietary colony would provide a refuge for Quakers” and after it’s founding, the Pennsylvania's population rose to 21,000 strong (Davidson, et al 96). A critical aspect of Pennsylvania's economic success was that a majority of the increasing population was experienced and skilled. This factor combined with the the fertile lands of Pennsylvania, offered an opportunity for farmers to grow wheat. Importantly, “those experienced settlers brought skills and connections that contributed to Pennsylvania’s rapid economic growth” (Davidson, et al 96). In addition, the abundance of fertile land permitted immigrants to own land which grew the economy, the “new arrivals readily acquired good land on liberal terms,” and Penn wrote, “our wilderness flourishes as a garden” (Davidson, et al 96). Although the colony of Pennsylvania suffered from political disagreements, it experienced economic growth as a result of the fertile land (Davidson, et al 97).
In summary, North America’s geography, fertile land, contributed to the expansion of the British colonies and its maturing economy.
Geography: Climate
North America’s geography is unique as it has a diverse climate which differs across the region. Whether for better or worse, the foreign climate of North America contributed to the development of the lifespan of British colonists. One example in which the climate affected the lifespan of the inhabitants of the British colonies is represented by the founding of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. With the promise of safe passage to North America, 104 boys and men lead the first expedition to North America by The Virginia Company. At the outset, they were greeted by marshy lands that were layered with dense woods. Unfortunately, this was ideal for a plethora of diseases such as: malaria, dysentery, typhoid, and yellow fever (Davidson, et al 59). Circumstances worsened as the climate changed to summer and the English, “unfamiliar with the region’s environment remained close to their forts” (Daviston, et al 56). During the summer months, salt poisoning in the wells limited water resources and left many sick. By the winter, the few Englishmen remaining suffered through what was known as the “starving time” and at the end of 1610 winter, only 60 of 500 inhabitants remained (Davidson, et al 59). The climate of Virginia devastated the first inhabitants because they were not equipped to handle the unfamiliar climate. This led to a high mortality rate created by the climate.
Another example in which the lifespan of British colonies was impacted by the climate is the founding of Plymouth by the Separatists “Pilgrims.” As a result of facing religious persecution because of their congregationalists views and belief that “the Church of England was too corrupt to reform” (Davidson, et al 85), they eventually attempted safe haven and settled in Southeastern Massachusetts after Captain John Smith lead the Mayflower a little “far to the north” (Davidson, et al 86). Climatic effects impacted the 88 Pilgrims when they anchored in Plymouth in November of 1620. Already “sick with scurvy” and “weak with malnutrition,” the odds for successful settlement were not in their favor (Davidson, et al 86). To further expand on the Pilgrims’ misfortune, the climate served as a harsh greeting upon landing. The Pilgrims had arrived too late in the winter months to be able to plant crops and did not have a food supply to rely on. The sickness, lack of readily available food supply, “nor the season invited settlement” (Daviston, et al 86). By the time Spring rolled around, half of the settlers had perished. Combined with other factors, the climatic geography of Massachusetts negatively impacted the mortality rates of the first Massachusetts settlers.
Contrastly, the geography of New England positively influenced the lifespan of the British emigrants in later years. When the Puritan movement came under greater scrutiny in 1629, a new surge of migration to New England evolved. Instead of the the simple Separatists, the Puritan “emigrants included merchants, landed gentlemen, and lawyers” (Davidson, et al 88). These skilled emigrants founded the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629 in hopes of improving society in America. As success stories were heard in England, migration swelled to 21,000 between 1630 and 1642 (Davidson, et al 89). Combined with the migration of “skilled and literate” emigrants, the climate also contributed to the lengthening lifespan of the colonists (Davidson, et al 88). The diversity of seasons in New England offered opportunity for a variety of agricultural opportunity as seasons progressed. The climate of the spring/summer offered fishing and hunting as a source of food. Whereas the climate of the spring/fall contributed to the successful cultivation and harvesting of crops like corn (Davidson, et al 92). With Puritan settlers embracing the “healthy climate”, the lifespan of individuals living in British colonies in New England was impressively lengthened (Davidson, et al 89). The average lifespan of New Englanders was a remarkable age of 70. Compared to Virginians, New Englanders lived twice as long and 10 years more than the average in England (Davidson, et al 89). Additionally, 90% of children reached adulthood, families included seven to eight children, and there were low death rates and high birth rates (Davidson, et al 89). These stories of success can be attributed to the climate of New England, which positively impacted the development of the lifespan of the British colonist by providing a diversity in seasons in which the colonists could blossom.
In conclusion, geography was a primary contributor to the development of the British colonies in the 1600’s. Whether impacting economy or life span, the Atlantic Ocean, fertile land and weather sculpted the evolution of the British colonies over the course of their early history.