Brooke Brody
US History
Dr. Hartfield
9/12/17
UNIT 1: Origins of New Nation
Chapter 1 – Many Cultures Meet (Prehistory-1550)
Section 1 – The American Indians
The First People of the Americas
Paleo Indians = first people in america
Ice Age = a period of time when the Earth was covered in ice and glaciers
Some scholars think Paleo-Indians traveled over a land bridge from Siberia to get their prey (15,000 years ago)
Other scholars think they migrated 40,000 years ago via small boats
12,000-10,000 years ago the planet warmed up
Ice age ended
Paleo Indians had to adapt and start fishing
375 distinct languages
Some learned to grow plants and start agriculture farming
Mayas – leading group of people near the gulf of mexico and caribbean coast
Aztecs – most powerful people in highland mexico
Early American Indian Cultures
First farming villages in southwest
Used adobe bricks
Mississippians, people near mississippi river, built nice civilizations influenced by Mexico
Great plains were hot and people had beehive shaped houses covered in thatch
Appalachians lived in eastern woodlands
Two major groups/languages
Iroquois League: 5 Iroquois groups came together to form league/loose federation (Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas)
Wanted to promote peaceful cooperation from all members
Common Cultural Features
Believed spirits could be found in all plants/life/nature
Owned little property
Respect for others
Section 2 – The Europeans
Life in Europe in the 1400s
Middle Ages: period of history 5th century to 14th century
Black death killed many
Cities – bases for merchants
Elite 5% ruled all land
Commoners did not have same things as the elite
Europe Looks Beyond its Borders
Church controlled intellectual life
Religious wars – crusades
Goal = capture + hold Jerusalem (Jesus’ holy land)
Bc of wars, europeans became aware of other places & countries
Trade was encouraged
Renaissance: new era 14th century; featured new concepts and learning + advancement of science and arts
Chapter 2 – Europeans Establish Colonies (1492-1752)
Section 2 – The French Empire (I did this one by accident)
The French Establish A Fur Trade
1500s explorers were more interested in finding a passage than establishing a colony
Northwest passage: water route to asia through waters of canada
Cartier explored St. Lawrence river; King claimed this as New France
French got fish from river and traded with indians for highly priced/demanded fur
Indians wanted fighting tools like axes and arrowheads; also wanted brass kettles and pots to cook
Indians started looking for beavers in territories of neighbors which led to wars
Traders also fought one another for furs
French company built fortified trading post at Quebec to stop wars (1608)
1st permanent settlement in canada by europeans
French took little land from indians because they wanted them to trade fur with them (also did not enslave them)
Samuel de Champlain: founder of Quebec
French sent missionaries to convert indians
Most were jesuit
This attracted iroquois who killed
Life in New France
French gov was like spain
France grew slowly because people were scared of iroquois
Most immigrants were farmers
Settlers lived lives of farming + trade
Coureurs de bois: fur traders married indian women
Metis: children of fur traders and indian women
Louisiana did not have many colonists
French viewed louisiana as military base
Section 3 – England’s First American Colonies
England’s Southern Colonies
Wealthy gentlemen promoted colonies
Promised american colonies would solve all problems (growing population & increased poverty due to economy)
They wanted to ship poor people to colonies to mine for gold and make new wealth for England
Charter: certificate
Joint-Stock Company: business founded and run by investors who share gains + losses
Made it to america at chesapeake bay 1607
Indians all united in one language and ruled under Powhaton
Chief powhatan wanted to trade with english but colonists wanted indians land
Chapter 3 – The American Colonies Take Shape (1607-1765)
Section 1 Immigration and Slavery
Europeans Migrate to the Colonies
90% of people in colonies were from England
Half of immigrants were indentured servants
Indentured servants: poor immigrants who paid for passage to the colonies by agreeing to work for 4-7 years
Scottish immigration soared
Germans immigrated, most were Protestant
William penn recruited germans
Immigration caused diversity
Waves of scottish and germans made quakers a minority
Every gradually accepted each other
Africans are Transported to America
Indentured servants were used, but as demands grew, colonies needed more workers
People turned to enslaved africans
Early 1600s treated slaves as indentured servants; they could own land, vote, be free after several years
Mid 1600s laws came out where english could permanently own slaves
Children of slaves were enslaved
Made blacks seem inferior to whites
Slavery expanded rapidly
Enslaved africans came to america through triangular trade
Triangular trade: 3 part voyage when slaves were brought to america; slave traders sailed from europe to africa to trade manufactured goods for enslaved africans, in Middle Passage shippers carried the enslaved africans across atlantic to american colonies
Middle passage was brutal, lasted 2 months, traumatic
They were jammed in small areas and branded with hot irons
Africans in the Americas
Slave auctions
Many slaves lived in southern colonies growing tobacco, rice, sugar, and indigo (40% population)
Slaves worked 12 hours a day with horrible conditions
Africans created new culture based on their traditions in africa
Slaves rebelled, especially in the south and west indies
Running away caused punishment of whipping/lashes
Few slaves obtained freedom later in life
Free african americans lived in cities to avoid discrimination
Phillis Wheatley is an example of a man that became free and distinguished himself
Section 2 The American Colonies and England
English monarchs were bound to uphold the Magna Carta
Magna Carta: a document English nobles forced king John to accept in 1215
Protected English nobles by not allowing King to tax them & right to trial
Parliament: English parliament became a bicameral (2 house legislature)
Members of house of lords – nobles who inherited positions + church leaders
Commoners elected, but only people with land could vote
English people in america wanted same rights that they had in england
1685 James II became king of england & tried to rule w/o parliament
Combined new york and new jersey (Dominion of New England)
Angered colonists
King James II was replaced by King William and Queen Mary,
Agreed to sign english bill of rights
English Bill of Rights: a document guaranteeing freedoms + restating rights in Magna Carta
Rights included habeas corpus: idea that no one could be held in prison without being charged with a specific crime
Rebellions among colonists
The glorious revolution encouraged England to adopt a colonial policy that historians: salutary neglect
England allowed colonies to self rule
England’s Economic Relationship With the Colonies
England’s colonization of americas was driven by financial concerns
Mercantilist: policy allows a nation or an empire to build wealth and power by developing its industries + export goods for gold and silver
Navigation acts: series of trade laws
New Ideas Affect the American Colonies
Europe experienced enlightenment
Enlightenment: a movement lead by people who believed that all problems are solvable using reason
Enlightenment brought new thinking and scientific revolution
Mid 18th century great awakening
Great Awakening: religious movement around the colonies during the 18th century
Preachers taught personal religious experiences
Great awakening lead to individuals looking for salvation
Many churches formed
Section 3 Comparing Regional Cultures
Regional Economic Patterns
Majority of people were farmers
New englanders raised livestock, grew wheat, rye, corn, and potatoes for their own use
Exported very little
Farms in the middle colonies did very well (good climate)
Southern farms did the best because of humid warm climate
Staple crops and cash crops
Regional Social Patterns
Middle Colonies, South, new England, all very different
New England + Middle Colonies = small amount of slaves
Regions were attracted to different settlements
Most women were dependent on men
Married women could not vote, own property, hold political offices, or serve on a jury
Men did farm work
Women did housework
Schooling most prevalent in new england colonies
Dame Schools: private schools run out of a woman’s home
Other than new england, not much education
Many colonists taught subjects like math and english to their children
Very few colleges, very expensive
Section 4 – Wars of Empire
European Competition and the Colonies
Mid 18th century struggle for empire between england, france, spain, and netherlands
England and france wars ended in treaties
French advantage = french support from most american indians
The French and Indian War
French & Indian war fought from 1754-1763; Britain colonies defeated France + Indian allies; ended up gaining control of eastern North America
Treaty of Paris (1763) ended war
British kept canada
Pontiac’s Rebellion
British settlers took indian lands
Indian nations made peace with Britain only if they restrained their settlers
British tried to enforce Proclamation of 1763 = document that ordered colonists to settle in the appalachian mountains
Aftermath of the War
Wars revealed tensions of British and colonists
Colonial delegates met in 1754 to review Albany Plan of Union = plan to have colonies unite under British rule and work with one another in wars