Exploration and Colonization

TEKS Expectation: Identify the reasons for exploration (Expect a diagram!)

Reasons For Exploration

(Economic, Religious, and Glory)

Rivalries= European countries like Spain, France, and Britain were in a big competition to explore and take over land in America.

Spain = It was all about finding economic (gold/wealth). They were really hoping to strike it rich. They also establish religious missions to spread Christianity.

Britain = They also wanted gold, but they mainly found it by growing cash crops on big farms called plantations. They grew things like tobacco, rice, indigo and cotton. Other groups were exploring and colonizing to escape religious persecution occurring in England.

France = They set up a fur trading business. They thought they could make a lot of money by trading fur with the Native Americans.

TEKS Expectation: Compare Jamestown and Plymouth British Colonies

Jamestown (Chesapeake Bay Colony)

Established in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London as the first permanent English settlement in North America.

The primary goal was to establish a profitable colony for England by finding valuable resources such as gold and silver.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including disease, starvation, and conflicts with Native American tribes, Jamestown eventually grew and prospered as more settlers arrived and established successful tobacco plantations.

Plymouth (Massachusetts Bay Colony)

Established in 1620 by English Puritans known as the Pilgrims seeking religious freedom from the Church of England.
They arrived on the Mayflower and settled in what is now Massachusetts, aiming to create a colony where they could practice their faith freely.
Plymouth became known for its early efforts at self-government (Mayflower Compact) and cooperation with Native American tribes.

TEKS Expectation: Explain how the geographic characteristics influenced the economic activities of a region

Transatlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic slave trade was a system of forced migration and trade of African people to the Americas, primarily to work on plantations and in other labor-intensive industries.

It involved the capture, sale, and transportation of millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. This brutal and inhumane practice had devastating consequences for African societies, contributing to the exploitation, oppression, and dehumanization of millions of people.

In the triangular trade, raw products such as cotton, tobacco, rice, and indigo were transported from the American continent to Europe. Europe, in turn, sent manufactured goods to Africa, and from Africa, enslaved people were forcibly relocated to plantations in the American South.

Key words: Transatlantic Slave Trade, Triangular trade, raw products, manufacture goods

TEKS Expectation: Compare the American colonial regions using PEGS (Expect a diagram)

NewEnglandBrainPOP.mp4

New England Colonies

Political: (Representative Governments)

The New England colonies implemented representative governments, as seen in documents like the Mayflower Compact and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. These early forms of self-governance laid the groundwork for democratic principles in the region.

Economic: (Lumber (wood), Shipbuilding, Fishing, Whaling, Fur Trading)

The economy of New England colonies thrived on industries such as lumber, shipbuilding, fishing, whaling, and fur trading. These activities capitalized on the region's abundant natural resources and access to the sea.

Geography: (Easy access to Harbor, Harsh Winter, Rocky Soil, Dense forest)

The geography of New England provided easy access to harbors, which facilitated trade and maritime activities. However, the region also faced challenges such as harsh winters, rocky soil unsuitable for large-scale agriculture, and dense forests that necessitated clearing for settlement and resource extraction.

Social: (Puritans, Pilgrims)

New England society was deeply influenced by Puritans and Pilgrims, who sought religious freedom and established communities based on their faith. These religious groups played a central role in shaping social norms and governing structures, emphasizing a strict religious lifestyle and community cohesion.

MiddleColoniesBrainPOP.mp4

Middle Colonies

Political: (Representative Governments)

The Middle Colonies featured a diverse political scene characterized by a mix of proprietary, royal, and self-governing system..

Economic: (Breadbasket, trade, ports)

The Middle Colonies had a diverse economy centered around trade facilitated happening in port towns, thriving industries, skilled artisans, and subsistence farming. The Middle Colonies earned the nickname of "breadbasket" for their abundant production of grains such as wheat, barley, oats, and rye.

Geography: (Mixed climate, fertile soil, harbors)

The geography of the Middle Colonies was characterized by a mix of coastal plains, fertile land and easy access to harbors. The soil was generally more fertile than in New England, allowing for successful farming of crops like grains. Additionally, the Middle Colonies had access to natural resources such as iron and coal, which supported the development of industries such as manufacture goods and ironworks.

Social: (diverse population and religions, tolerance, and Quakers)

The Middle Colonies had a diverse population, including settlers from various European backgrounds and religious affiliations, they had a culture of religious tolerance. Social life revolved around vibrant urban centers where trade, and commerce flourish. The Quakers established the Pennsylvania to create a space of religious tolerance.

SouthernColoniesBrainPOP.mp4

Southern Colonies

Political: (Representative Governments) In the Southern colonies, there were colonial assemblies that handled local governance and passed laws. These assemblies were seen as a form of self-government because they allowed property owners in the colonies to have a say in how things were run. However, these assemblies were often controlled by the planter class, a wealthy group of landowners.

One standout example is the Virginia House of Burgesses, which was particularly important. It's famous for being known as the first representative government in the colonies, where people could choose others to speak and make decisions on their behalf. This system set a precedent for how later governments in America would work.

Economic: The colonial economy of the South was mainly based on farming, with a focus on cash crops such as tobacco, rice,indigo and later cotton. Sadly, enslaved Africans played a crucial role in working on large plantations owned by rich landowners.

Geography: The geography of the colonial South feature fertile land, ideal for farming cash crops like tobacco and rice. With a warm climate and ample access to harbors, the region's geography facilitated the growth of large plantations and shaped its economic reliance on agriculture.

Social: The social characteristics of the colonial South features wealthy plantation owners, enslaved Africans and indentured servants. Enslaved people and indentured servants made up the labor force, with little to no rights or social mobility.

New England Colonies

Middle Colonies

Southern Colonies

TEKS Expectation: Explain the reason for the growth of self-government and representative government (Expect a diagram)

Colonial Governments

The Colonial Government set the precedents for our current representative government. The following documents and assemblies are the most significance:

Mayflower Compact: The Mayflower Compact is a document that was a social contract or agreement among the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower in 1620 to establish a self-governing society based on majority rule and the consent of the governed.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut: Is a document consider to be the first written constitution in America, outlining the structure and powers of government based on the consent of the governed and establishing principles of representative democracy.

Virginia House of Burgesses: The Virginia House of Burgesses, founded in 1619, was the first elected legislative assembly in the American colonies, representing the people of Virginia and serving as a model for representative government in the North American colonies.

Page updated

Report abuse