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Period: Dec 10, 1492 to Dec 11, 1510
Columbian Exchange
Transfer of plants, animals, diseases, human pop., technology, and culture bw Europe and America. Europeans brought diseases to the indians (who weren't immune); Europeans brought crops back to Europe w high caloric value caused a pop. spike; -
Dec 12, 1492
Columbus
Columbus arrives in the West Indies. Thanks to Spain's power and stability, and the Treaty of Tordesillas, Spain dominates exploration of the Americas during the 16th century. -
Period: Dec 10, 1517 to
Protestant Reformation
Catholic Church was rife with corruption (indulgences, luxurious lifestyles of popes). Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin called for change. Henry VII split from the RCC and formed the Church of England. English colonies in America were mostly protestant. -
Period: Dec 10, 1560 to
Purifying the Church of England
Both Puritans and Catholics were unhappy with Elizabeths "middle way" attempt at a compromise. Unease with England's spiritual state from both sides caused groups to migrate -
Period: to
Proprietors
In the 17th century, English colonization shifted to proprietary efforts.
e.g. Calvert, Lord Baltimore, William Penn. -
Jamestown
After the Spanish Armada was destroyed, Spain could not stop English colonization of the New World. Queen Elizabeth supported the exploration of America by joint stock companies. The London company establishes the first permanent English settlement in America at Jamestown.
-1/2 population died the first winter (mismanagement, useless pursuits, ignorance of the environment)
-John Smith recognized importance of producing food
-Tobacco saves colony
-mistreatment of Indians (bad call) -
Mayflower Compact
A group of English Separatists (Pilgrims) sailing to VA were blown off course to Plymouth. Since they were outside the jurisdiction of the London Company they drew up the Mayflower compact. It was a mutually agreed upon covenant that established a set of political rules for the colony. A democratic document, it was one of the first illustrations of the idea that a society should be governed by laws chosen by the people. -
Period: to
The Great Migration
Due to the hostile and threatening religious climate under Charles I, many Puritans decided to leave the country to escape persecution -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
A group of Puritans seeking religious refuge in America formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. They believed they were a chosen people--meant to do God's work on earth and form a perfect society. Their governor, John Winthrop called them a "city upon a hill." The founders established an elected legislature, but voters and legislators had to be church members. Full membership in the church was reserved for visible saints. Anne Hutchinson, Roger Williams banished for challenging the church -
Period: to
War with the Indians
Pequot War: Several colonial governments declared war on the Pequot Indians when they would not surrender tribe membership and pay tribute. King Phillip's War: in 1676 the colonists went on the offensive and attacked all the wampanoag villages, killing 4000 indians. Metacom was said to look like King Phillip of Spain because of his dress. Europeans thought the Indians were Heathens because they were polytheistic. Europeans did not understand Indian treatment of the land. -
Toleration Act
Lord Baltimore hoped to create a refuge for persecuted Catholics immigrating from England. However Catholics quickly became the minority and they felt compromised. Baltimore signed the Toleration Act to grant freedom of religion to all Christians.