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Jamestown Colony, VA
The Virginia Company sent the first settlers (Englishmen and their servants) to the colony. The first women arrived in 1608 and the population greatly increased from 104 to about 400 people. Due to obstacles like lack of food and disease, the population fluctuated. Since there was no gold, Governor John Smith forced the settlers to work and farm if they wanted food. The headright system gave 50 acres of land to anyone who paid for a voyage to Jamestown. -
First African Slaves in Virginia
The Dutch brought the first 20 African slaves to Virginia. Many years would go by before the significance of this event would be apparent. -
Plymouth, MA and Mayflower Compact
Male settlers created this agreement stating they will follow “just and equal laws.” These laws were to be created by elected representatives. This first written frame of government set a precedent for future colonies. -
Indian Uprising of 1622
Opechancanough and his tribe attacked Virginia’s settler population. Three hundred settlers were killed. The remaining population of 900 attacked and devastated the Indian villages. This uprising, although at first harmful to the settlers, it secured their superiority over the Indians. -
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The Great Puritan Migration to the MA Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Company, funded by London merchants, aimed to help Puritans and to profit from Indian trade. The Puritans moved to the MA Bay Colony for increased economic opportunity, to escape unstable England, but most importantly, for religious freedom. About 21,000 Puritans moved to the MA Bay Colony, the ratio of men to women being about 1:1. Because of this ratio, the population grew rapidly. John Winthrop was the first governor. -
Maryland and Calvert
Cecilius Calvert received a charter from the English crown to create Maryland with absolute power. He appointed mostly Catholic officials but Protestants made up the population’s majority. Maryland hand a headright system and many settlers came over as indentured servants. Tobacco became a prominent product of Maryland. The colony suffered high death rates. -
Rhode Island and Williams
Roger Williams was banished from the MA Bay Colony in 1636 because he disagreed with Puritan ways. He and his followers formed the colony of Rhode Island. This colony had no religious qualification for voting or an established church. Rhode Island held town meetings often and all government officials were elected. -
Anne Hutchinson
Hutchinson lived in the MA Bay Colony. She held meetings in her house were she discussed religious issues. She accused ministers of false preaching about predestination. She believed that a minister could not determine who has elected or damned on the basis of church attendance. She was tried for treason and banished. She then moved to Rhode Island. -
Pequot War
The Pequot’s controlled much of the fur trade in southern New England. They killed a fur trader. In response, CT and MA soldiers, with Narragansett help, burned the main Pequot village. This war went on for only a few months, resulting in much of the tribe being exterminated. This opened up the CT River valley for white settlement. It also warned other Indian tribes of the settler’s strength. -
The Half-Way Covenant
The size of the Puritan church was diminishing because people could not meet the requirements of full church membership. The Congressional Church was not only loosing size, but also social influence. The covenant allowed for baptism and half-membership for those who had church members in their ancestry. -
New York (formerly New Netherland)
During an Anglo-Dutch war, English gained control of New Netherland. James, the Duke of York, took control, with absolute power, of what became New York. -
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Carolina
Wealthy planters established the colony to find land for their sons. The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina aimed to establish a feudal society. It would, however, allow for an elected assembly and religious toleration. There was also a very generous headright system. -
Bacon’s Rebellion
Governor William Berkeley was a corrupt governor of Virginia. He rewarded his wealthy supporters with the best land. He refused to allow whites to settle on Indian land. The leader of the rebellion, Nathaniel Bacon, called for reduction of taxes, removal of Indians, and a fair government. When Berkeley fled, Bacon became governor until the English navy overpowered him. -
Pennsylvania and Penn
William Penn wanted to create a place of religious toleration and peace with Indians. He also wanted to create a refuge for the Society of Friends, or Quakers. -
Charter of Liberties (NY)
The colonies were displeased with the way the NY government was working. The Charter of Liberties called for elections every three years. It also assured trial by jury, protection of property, and religious toleration. This charter only applied to the English in the colony, not the Dutch. -
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Dominion of New England
In an effort to raise money for himself, James II of England created one huge colony. It consisted of CT, Plymouth, MA, NH, RI, NY, and NJ. The governor was Sir Edmund Andros, who did not have an elected assembly. There were many rebellions in the colonies, resulting in the Dominions demise. -
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Salem Witch Trials
Puritans were unhappy with things in their everyday life and were looking for a scapegoat. They accused 150 people of witchcraft, punishable by execution. The governor of MA set up a special court for the trials. The outcome was 14 women and 5 men being executed. By the end of the year, the remaining prisoners were released.