Periodization
The years 1492-1607 marked the period of early exploration, expansion, and settlement in the western world. The years began with Christopher Columbus' exploration to the New World. With his landing on the Americas, he was able to come into contact with the Native Americans, thus beginning the Columbian exchange and opening a gateway for early trade. The race to the New World had begun. Many countries were eager to send their explorers onto the same voyage Columbus had taken. In addition to Columbus, Cabot, Cortes, de Sato, among many other explorers, opened up the frontier to the west world for upcoming settlers.
At the same time as exploration was growing, religious unrest was becoming a major conflict in Europe. Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic church, beginning the Protestant Reformation and years later, John Calvin did the same in breaking away from the church. The prospect of settlement and escaping the religious disputes in Europe became plausible by moving to America. The first settlement in America began in Roanoke Island; however, soon the settlement became known as the Lost Colony after its mysterious disappearance. Many colonists were not discouraged by the failure and continued to seek religious freedom. Although the first settlement was one of failure, it would not be the last attempt of colonization as more and more colonists came from Europe to settle in the New World. During 1607-1754, many people from Europe began to settle in the Americas, creating colonies and communities. It was a time period where settlement, growth, and soon trade dominated the western hemisphere. Many of the first settlements were spurred on by religious freedom, as many of the first settlers sailed to the west for that very reason. Spain found great success in the settlement of the New World. England wanted to replicate the same success Spain had found. England’s success grew after they defeated the Spanish Armada and began to mark its place in the New World. The Dutch, French, English, and Spanish all raced for land in the New World. St. Augustine became the first permanent settlement in the New World and was settled by the Spanish. One of the first colonies was Jamestown, founded in Virginia. Jamestown soon became an ideal for many of the upcoming settlers. Despite the community’s initial tensions with the Native Americans, they were able to overcome the disputes. Trade in tobacco grew after John Rolfe introduced it to the colony. Soon, New England, Middle, and Southern colonies were established as the three different regions in the Americas. Puritans and Pilgrims settled in the north but soon, many dissenters separated from the colonies and established new colonies such the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Providence. Though they differed in religion, they shared the same British royal crown and the same restrictions. Soon, the differences no longer mattered as all of the now established 13 colonies began to revolt the higher British power. |
Turning Points/Major Events
Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas (1492)
upon the Americas, sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, the real MIPs during this time period (not John Rolfe, whoever he is), after his request for sponsorship in Portugal failed. The initial mission was to find an easier trade route to Asia from Europe, though arguably, Columbus discovered something even better.
route to India - He took with him the ships the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria (He was on Santa Maria) - On October 12, 1492, he landed in the San Salvador. He continued along the Bahama islands until he ended on the Island of Hispaniola - Columbus left 39 of his men here to create a settlement, eventually called La Navidad - After ~5 months of exploring the islands he left the Bahamas to go back to Spain, kidnapping Native Americans to come along with him rude
- Creation of La Navidad and eventually, many other settlements - Native American enslavement - Many other explorers followed his route to explore the Americas
- Boosted the amount of people sailing west - Settlement increased |
Columbian Exchange (1492)
- Included the trade of plants, animals, technology, ideas, and diseases - Introduced to Old World: Turkey, corn, potato, sweet potato, cocoa, tomatoes, syphilis, tobacco - Introduced to New World: Chicken, cows, apples, bananas, peaches, celery, mango, radish, a butt ton of diseases
income; indirectly, the Columbian Exchange caused the potato famine - Native American population declined rapidly (90% loss) - Culture was modified from before
- Early trade |
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
dispute - Portugal got what was to the right of the line, which is modern day Brazil - Spain got what was left of the line, which was basically everything else - Portugal got the short of the stick - It was settled by the pope who was considered a neutral party
- The rest of South America speaks Spanish - Conflict between Catholics and Protestants in South America (Spanish were Catholic and Portugal's monarchs were Protestant) - Settled major land dispute
- Land conflict during the time period |
Enconmienda System is established (1512)
- The Spanish people were offered land in exchange for Christianizing the Native Americans - The Native Americans that they Christianized were used as a source of slave labor - Later it was ended with the help of Bartolome de Las Casas
- Native Americans lost their religion - Resulted in the protest of many and hindered settlement efforts
- Early settlement |
Protestant Reformation begins (1517)
posted the "95 Theses," a document criticizing the Catholic church - A movement to purge the church of all corruption and focus on the Bible instead of blindly following tradition - Luther made use of the printing press and utilized it to create a larger follower base
- Lutherism became a religion - John Calvin followed the movement and broke away from the church too - Challenged religious views and leaders, inspiring many others - Inspiration towards democracy
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St. Augustine is established (1565)
- Fortress/military outpost when France attacked Spanish ships - First successful permanent settlement - Started pirating from Spain
- Inspired other settlers
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An attempt to settle Roanoke Island is made (1585)
- Abandoned after Sir Francis Drake left the colony to return to England - First attempt failed - Second attempt occurred in 1587 - Became known as the "Lost Colony" - John White, a resident of the colony, left the colony for supplies. After coming back, he found no trace of the colony except for the word "CROATOAN" carved in a wooden post
lesson on the mistakes that they shouldn't make - Left behind a legacy and unsolved mystery
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Jamestown is founded (1607)
- Initially incredibly unsuccessful; they arrived during a drought and contracted many diseases - Mainly gentlemen settled here - Major disputes with the Powhatan Native Americans, who eventually befriended the colonists after a run in with John Smith
- Major center for tobacco - Influenced other people to colonize Americas because of its success
- Early trade |
John Rolfe introduces tobacco to Jamestown (1609)
was a failure. The colonists could not find a mineral or crop to sustain themselves
rustica, but John Rolfe knew that crop would not sell in Europe - He managed to obtain a similar crop, nicotiana tabacam, from South America how - He got jiggy with Pocahontas and won her affection. She helped him raise the tobacco like their own children tbh
- Jamestown soon became a major exporter of the crop - You could say it brought together John Rolfe and Pocahontas' unification since it was in the fields of tobacco where they bonded
- Early settlement |
House of Burgesses is established (1619)
Jamestown, decided to abolish martial law and instead implement a legislative assembly
- Modeled after the parliament and helped maintain the colonists' rights - Initially headed by governor and governor's council - Began to revolt against the monarchy in England and was then broken apart by the royal governor
- Fostered many of the founding fathers, including George Washington
- Early sign of democracy |
The landing of the Mayflower (1620)
- As a result, the passengers had to sail through many storms to reach the Americas - After several months, the Pilgrims reached the Americas - To be considered a real colony, they drafted the Mayflower Compact
- The first Thanksgiving - Formation of Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Religious persecution |
Massachusetts Bay Colony is founded (1630)
from King Charles I to create a trading colony - Settled by Puritans who created a theocracy - Because it strayed from the crown, the charter was annihilated - It was set under a royal charter in 1691 - Plymouth and Maine fused to become the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony - Thomas Hooker left to found Connecticut - Roger Williams also left to found Providence - Anne Hutchinson was banned from the colony
- Early trade |
Rhode Island is founded (1636)
Americans - He basically didn't take crap from anyone and went to form his own colony along with some followers. This situation was more comical than anything else tbh cause they were like "u can't stay here" and he was like "yea?" and just formed his own colony - There's not much to it besides that. When he founded the colony he decided religious tolerance was important and so was purchasing things from Native Americans instead of idk taking it from them like a bunch of barbarians
- Became a place of safety for those who practiced religion differently from the mass majority - Anne Hutchinson was banned too so she formed Portsmouth in Rhode Island
- Early settlement |
Navigation Act is passed (1663)
certain items could only be traded with the British wow - If the colonists wanted to trade outside of England, guess who had to receive the shipment first? England
- Restricted colonial trade - A factor of build up to American Revolution - Everyone agreed the king and Parliament sucked and began to work towards a democracy
- Early trade restrictions |
Bacon's Rebellion (1676)
- They decided to do their own thing and they went and killed Native Americans themselves - The rebels wrote a declaration slamming Gov Berkley - THEN THEY KILLED MORE NATIVE AMERICANS THAT ACTUALLY HELPED THEM AND DECIDED TO BURN JAMESTOWN TO THE GROUND
- Jamestown got burned to the ground..... - Gov William Berkley eventually ended up losing his position - Upperclass feared for the uprising of slaves
- Separation of classes |
Great Awakening begins (1730s)
- Jonathan Edwards was an angry dude who preached about "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" which sparked the start of the Great Awakening
- Dudes like George Whitefield joined him in the preaching business. He was known for his dramatic sermons and crying like crazy
- A new era of preachers came about - Some historians say it helped bring about the American Revolution
- Protestantism |
Stono Rebellion (1739)
- Spain offered refuge in Florida for escaped slaves - Spanish and English war - Smallpox deaths
- They robbed a firearms shop - As they went through town they gathered more members until the rebellion was finally ended with the execution of the rebels
- Fining of whites who were harsh to their slaves
- Early slavery |
Comparisons
St. Augustine & Jamestown
Similarities
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St. Augustine
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Jamestown
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Chinook & Algonquian Native Americans
Similarities
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Chinook
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Algonquian
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House of Burgesses & Mayflower Compact
Similarities
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House of Burgesses
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Mayflower Compact
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Atlantic Slave Trade & Enconmienda System
Similarities
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Atlantic Slave Trade
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Enconmienda System
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