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English Religion and Rebellion in North America 1607-1700What
were special characteristics of the Chesapeake region in the 17th
century, and how did they affect life there?How did various systems
of labor take hold in the Chesapeake?Compare the Indian Rebellion
and Bacons Rebellion. What were consequences of each for
Virginia?
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Settling the New WorldUnlike other Europeans, English were able
to make successful, populated colonies in North America
Roanoke colony The lost colony
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1606After failure of Roanoke, merchants replace gentry as
leaders of English expansionKing James and British ministry approve
venture to North America by the Virginia Company to settle region
from (present-day) North Carolina to southern New YorkAllows for
more autonomy in trade, settlementCommerce, not settlement, was the
goal of Virginia companyFirst expedition in 1607 (Jamestown) was
limited to male traders, employees of the company
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Threat in JamestownInitially dispatched to ship gold, exotic
crops and merchandise to England, the workers found no goldIn the
swampy environment, the men resorted to stealing and conflicts with
local tribes for food and survival; only 38 of 120 lived by
160816111,200 settlers sent to Jamestown; less than half survive
the starving timeAlliance with Powhatan of Algonquins turns to
breaking point; marriage of his daughter Pocahontas to John Rolfe
supposed to spark trade and end conflict
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Tobaccoa turning pointRolfe had brought tobacco seed from West
Indies, which thrives in swampy Chesapeake, creating a cash crop
for EnglandTobacco becomes basis of economic life and permanent
settlement of Jamestown by 1617To encourage settlement, Virginia
Company creates headright system50 acre parcels of land given to
colonists who brought indentured servants into AmericaSystem of
representative government formed with House of Burgesses in 1619;
4,500 new colonists arrive by 1622 attracted by land,
self-government, and judicial system
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Impact of Tobacco in the ChesapeakeAll our riches for the
present do consist in tobacco (1630)Exports: 3 million lbs. 1640 to
10 million lbs in 1660New arrivals continue to expand up James and
Chesapeake, creating large plantationsHowever, families were
scarceDisease; death in childbirth; orphans
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Expansion of English coloniesInflux of settlers sparked war with
natives in the area, especially over landPowhatans brother and
successor, Opechancanough, resisted any English attempts to take
land or convert nativesIn 1622, coordinates attack of 12 tribes,
killing nearly 1/3 of English settlersEnglish fight back,
destroying them who sought to destroy us
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New DirectionsUprising leads King James to revoke Virginia
Company charter, making Virginia a royal colony Church of England
established in Virginia, property owners support clergy through
taxationAll royal colonies afterward would be overseen by a royal
governor, elected assembly (House of Burgesses) and Anglican
Church
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Baltimores colonyFollowing the success of Jamestown, Charles I
(James successor) wanted a new tobacco colony bordering the
Chesapeake1632 Land was granted through a royal charter to Charles
Calvert (Lord Baltimore)Colony was to be sympathetic to Catholics
persecuted by Anglican Church (Charles I sympathizer)Grant was
called Maryland, after Charles Is wife1634 first settlers arrive in
Maryland
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Marylands religionMaryland became a refuge for Catholics and
ProtestantsTension between religious groups threatened colonys
solidarityleads to Toleration Act of 1649, granting religious
toleration to all Christians
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Slaves in the ChesapeakeMajority of migrants to Chesapeake were
indentured servantssubject to harsh punishment, not able to marry,
many never escape poverty (only 25% succeed)African workers, who
first arrived in 1619, remained a small part of the populationSome
Africans, like indentureds, could aspire to near equality with
settlers and become plantersAlthough most served masters for life,
not legally enslaved; common law did not legalize chattel slavery
(buying/selling of slaves as property) It was only after a collapse
of the tobacco industry in the 1660s that laws were passed lowering
status of Africans in the region and establishing slavery
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Seeds of RebellionWith large influx of tobacco in the market,
collapse of boom in 1660sLeads to market for cheap labor, blacks
can make it cheaper than whites Negro and Slave had by custom grown
Homogenous and convertibleIn effort to exclude other European
nations from taking part in tobacco market, Parliament passes Act
of Trade and Navigation (Navigation Acts) in 1651Limits Dutch, who
had paid highest prices for tobacco, sold best goods, provided
cheap shippingRequired colonists to ship all products (including
the newly, high-demand sugar) only to Britain, destroying most
profitsTobacco planters increase, but Chesapeake no longer offers
upward social mobility to whites or blacksRegion now dominated by
white planter-elites/merchants
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Corruption of BerkeleyGovernor William Berkeley became corrupt,
creating a spoils system that gave tax-free land to members of his
council and jobs in return for loyaltyIndian conflict also started
social conflict among poor white freeholders and landless
whitesWanted local Indians removed from the treaty-guaranteed lands
along the frontier, so that they could own landWealthy
planter-merchants opposed removal; they wanted continued cheap
labor and Indians to trade withFreeholders form militia and begin
killing natives in 1675; retaliation forces Berkeley to make a
decision to avoid warBerkeley attempts to solve conflict by
creating frontier fortsHowever, settlers saw this plan as a plot to
impose higher taxes and take control of tobacco trade
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Bacons Rebellion (1676)Nathaniel Bacon, a member of Berkeleys
council, led a protest against BerkeleyBacon and his men kill a
number of peaceful natives after governor refuses to grant military
commissionSupporters threaten violence; Berkeley agrees to
political reforms, restores voting to landless freemen as a
solution (not enough in eyes of poor and reformers)Issue Manifesto
and Declaration of the People demanding removal of Indians and end
to rule of the wealthy parasites
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Results of Rebellion and ConflictBacons Rebellion prompts tax
cuts, reduction of corruption in government, opening of public
offices to yeomen, expansion into previously protected Indian
landsTo reduce chances of another rebellion, Chesapeake planters
turn away from indentured servitude, Burgesses legalizes practice
of chattel slavery in 1705
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Big IdeasColonial drive for wealth led to growth of tobacco as a
cash cropThis led to the policy of a headright systemLand-grabbing
and planting led to encroachment on and conflict with local Indian
populations (Opechancanough war in 1622, 1644; Indian War
1676)Dispersion of land holdings, along with poverty and the
environmental obstacles led to undermining of traditional British
social order and gender rolesCreation of class system and demand
for political rights leads to social rebellionBacons Rebellion and
reforms Fear of social rebellion leads to legalization of slavery
Changes in market, rise of wealth, and shifting patterns of
migration enable system of slavery to become common place by early
18th century