Exploring the Past: History of Explorers & Founding English Colonies in America - Prof. El, Study notes of United States History

Download Exploring the Past: History of Explorers & Founding English Colonies in America - Prof. El and more Study notes United States History in PDF only on Docsity! ***Don’t worry about dates -> Remember the events in order. HISTORY NOTES - Wood & Gray said, “History is an event, a record, and a field of study.” o History is built of people…people are people are people…human nature shapes history. o Those who don’t study history, repeat its mistakes. - Material Culture = Looking at an object and looking deep into it. Asking questions like Who? What? When? Why? How? & asking details about the person(s) involved. CHAPTER 1 - Explorers - St. Augustine was the first port in America in 1685 and it was controlled by the Spanish. Spain also used it as their religion post. - In the first half of the 16th century, English & Spain were allied against France. They broke up because of (1) Religion (Spain was Catholic & England was Protestant), (2) England supported Dutch sailors while the Netherlands were revolting against Spain, and (3) in 1588, the Spanish Armada invaded England. From 1588-1604 they were ill at ease with one another. **Richard Hakluyt – Wrote & Published the Principle Navigations to keep the English interested in settling the new world. It said the new world was a great place to go. - Sir William Hawkins & Sir John Hawkins, the “Sea Dogs” were pirates with illegal trade. - England had 2 goals: (1) find a new North West passage to the Orient, and (2) Beat Spain in trade. - Another Sea Dog, Sir Frances Drake seized great treasures from Spain, sailed around the world in 1578, claimed California for England, & received Knighthood. However, he “Singed the King’s Beard” and lost his knighthood. o His success as a “Sea Dog” led to the Spanish Armada invasion of England. - The Greater Englanders supported expansion to the new world & the establishment of colonies. – It would expand influence & & get profit from furs, trades, passage, etc. – This interested Queen Elizabeth I. - Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in 1578, was given a patent to “colonize a new colony in the new world” – sailed to Newfoundland & claimed it but he drowned on the return voyage. o His goal in 1585 was to make a military colony. Ralph Layne was the leader of 107 men at Roanoke Island, but the men eventually returned home to England. They tried the colony again, but sent families instead of single men, to make a permanent settlement. This second group was led by John White (an artist & mathematician). They were aiming for Chesapeake but ended up at Roanoke in 1587. White went back to England, but could not return until 1590 because of the Armada invasion. He left behind his family on Roanoke, including his granddaughter named Virginia Dare, the very first white American born on American soil. When White returned to Roanoke, the settlement was deserted = Starvation? They moved in with Indians? Died in Hurricane or Winter? = No one knows = The Lost Colony. - Queen Elizabeth wanted colonies but wouldn’t support them with money from her treasury. That money was for a possible war with Spain. - James I ascended the throne next, and brought peace with Spain in 1604 & was finally free to colonize. In 1606 he granted charters to make mercantile colonies, for business, and the 2 companies couldn’t settle within 100 miles of each other. - The Londoners  The Virginia Company  Authorized to settle from North Carolina to New York. - The West England Merchants  The Plymouth Company  Authorized to settle from Virginia to Maine. - There was a Royal Council in England & a Subsidiary Council in colonies to make laws / keep peace. - Virginia Company sent 144 men to Virginia, but 39 died on the ship. o This group was mostly second sons b/c in England, the 1st son was the heir to the family wealth, so the 2nd sons had to set out and make a name for themselves. o They moved 30 mi. inland & settled on James River and named the settlement Jamestown (for King James). o They had to battle heat, diseases (Malaria), & mosquitoes. They never knew how to use their hands for planting crops or building homes so ½ died that first winter of 1607. o A 2nd group arrived in 1608 w/ John Smith. He governed w/ military discipline, negotiated w/ Powhatan Indian tribe, & got everyone to work for the good of everyone. Chief Powhatan was going to bash in Smith’s skull, but Pocahontas the Chief’s daughter saw his bravery & saved him. Chief spared his life & claimed him as his son. o Smith was injured in a gun powder explosion & he went back to England. They turned leadership to someone new in 1609. After he left, the settlers regressed to laziness & winter of 1609/1610 was the “Starving Time” & almost everyone died. Accounts of cannibalism were rampant. o Lord Delawarr was sent to replace Smith, and reached Jamestown in 1610. In 1611, Shakespeare wrote “Tempest” w/ the settlement in mind (cannibals). Delawarr & Thomas Gates worked to keep everyone from leaving. Gates and Thomas Dale came up w/ Marshall Law. o Dale’s Laws: 1. Respect Sabbath & worship regularly.