American History: Early English Settlement

Topic 2: Early English Settlement

Study questions:

-In what ways did the English approach to settlement in the New World differ from earlier Europeans?  How did such differences go on to shape the ‘American’ worldview?

-explain each factor (push and pull) involved in English migration to the New World during the 1600s.

-How did early capitalism, the enclosure movement, and Malthusian conditions shape the migration of indentured servants (English voluntary slaves) to the New World?

-What were 2 major colonial crises during 17th century colonial America that were discussed in lecture, and how can they be analyzed in terms of race, gender, and/or class?

-explain how the Puritan beliefs in predestination and “visible sainthood” connected with the belief in hard work and economic mobility (aka “capitalist ethos”).

-discuss the meaning of land in the English worldview during this time, and how this connected to political status.

-Compare and contrast the 3 variants of early English settlement in terms of demographics and population, economics, politics (where applicable); religion (where applicable).  Hint: think of things like “what kind of agricultural systems did they use”; “what was the ratio between  genders”? “which variants had more whole families migrate”? “which variants were more influenced by religion rather than economics”? And others….

-explain the details  of the economic theory and practice of ‘mercantilism,’ and this connects with rivalry among empires during the Age of European imperialism.

Historical Terms: push vs pull factors in human migration (generally-speaking); joint-stock company; indentured servitude; “city upon a hill”; subsistence-plus farming; visible sainthood and predestination; covenant of grace; Anne Hutchinson; Malthusian conditions

Textbook questions:

-What are the Navigation Acts?  Important: connect the Acts to the theory and practice of ‘mercantilism’ as discussed in lecture.

-how was slavery looked at by William Penn and the Quakers in Pennsylvania?  What was Penn’s ideal vision for his colony?

-Read the primary source titled “Recruiting Settlers to Carolina, 1666” (primary sources are found at the end of the chapter).   What was the ‘head-right’ system  like for the Carolina region? Why would newly-freed indentured servants want to settle in Carolina?  (important: in lecture,  I discussed the head-right system in Virginia, so this question asks you to compare both head-right systems).

Topic 3: Slavery in Virginia

Study questions:

-distinguish between a ‘slave society’ and ‘society-with-slaves,’ and why this distinction is important in the evolution of slavery in the colonies.

-describe the details of the triangular trade system

-Describe how Virginia transitioned from a “servant society” (and also a ‘society-with-slaves’) to a slave society in the 1600s, focusing on Virginia law

Terms: racialized slavery; partus sequitur ventrem; perpetual slavery; middle passage

Topic; 18th Century English colonies

Study questions:

-describe the enormous change happening in the colonies in terms of population, immigration; new colonies; economics.

-the English colonies were marked by many differences between them (this goes back to decentralization); however they did share some unifying experiences across the board. Discuss these shared experiences, showing how they contributed to the process of democratization.

-what was the enlightenment, and its core beliefs? What were some English contributions to political philosophy that would eventually influence the American revolution?

Historical Terms: Great Awakening, consumerism, natural development; coverture; classical liberalism and republicanism; rule of law; public sphere; Pennsylvania Dutch; Scots Irish