APUSH Unit 2 REVIEW [Period 2: 1607-1754]—Everything You NEED to Know

Introduction to APUSH Unit 2

Overview of the Time Period

• The unit covers historical developments from 1607 (founding of Jamestown) to 1754 (beginning of the French and Indian War).

• Focuses on the growth and development of British colonies in North America, their relations with other colonial powers, and indigenous nations.

• The second half addresses increasing tensions between American colonies and British imperial policies.

Comparison of European Colonial Empires

• Major European powers during this period include Spain, the Dutch, the French, and the British.

• Each power had different goals for their colonies, leading to distinct colonial structures and relationships with indigenous peoples.

Spanish Colonial Empire

Goals and Economic Motivations

• Spain aimed primarily to extract wealth through minerals like gold/silver initially, later focusing on cash crops such as sugar and tobacco.

Social Systems Imposed by Spain

• The encomienda system was established for subjugating native populations into forced labor; it was later replaced by the hacienda system due to abuses.

• The hacienda system allowed land ownership by plantation owners while tying indigenous laborers to land through debt repayment.

Religious Conversion Efforts

• Spanish missions were set up to convert indigenous Americans to Christianity, centralizing Catholic churches in settlements.

Indigenous Resistance: Pueblo Revolt

• The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 exemplified resistance against Spanish cultural imposition; Pueblo people rebelled after violent suppression of their beliefs.

Casta System

• The Spanish caste system ranked individuals based on racial ancestry, privileging pure Spaniards over indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans.

Dutch and French Colonial Approaches

Comparative Analysis with Spanish Colonization

• Unlike Spain's control-oriented approach, both Dutch and French focused on trade partnerships with indigenous groups rather than establishing permanent settlements.

• Their primary economic activity revolved around building trading posts rather than large-scale colonization efforts.

This structured summary captures key insights from the transcript while providing a clear navigational guide through timestamps for further reference.

Colonial Motivations and Interactions

Economic Motivations of European Powers

• The French fur trappers intermarried with indigenous peoples to meet the demand for furry hats among European elites. They sent missionaries but made few converts, avoiding the brutal tactics used by the Spanish.

• The Dutch, like the French, focused on economic gains through fur trade and established New Amsterdam as a significant trading port, attracting merchants from diverse backgrounds. More than a dozen languages were reportedly spoken in its streets.

• In contrast to Spain's large-scale colonization efforts, both France and the Netherlands sent fewer settlers and adopted more accommodating strategies towards indigenous groups to achieve their economic goals.

British Colonization: A Different Approach

• Great Britain saw a much larger influx of settlers compared to other European powers due to four main motivations: social mobility, economic prosperity, religious freedom, and improved living conditions.

Social Mobility

• Many individuals sought opportunities for social advancement that were limited in England due to primogeniture laws favoring the eldest son for land inheritance. Younger brothers looked towards colonies for land ownership possibilities.

Economic Prosperity

• The first British colony at Jamestown (established in 1607) was populated mainly by young men seeking wealth through gold extraction; however, they initially neglected agriculture leading to starvation until tobacco cultivation began generating profits.

Religious Freedom

• England experienced significant religious turmoil during this period with conflicts between Catholics and Protestant factions like Puritans and Separatists (Pilgrims), prompting some groups to seek refuge in America for unimpeded worship practices.

Improved Living Conditions

• The convergence of population growth and the enclosure movement restricted lower-class access to land in England, pushing many toward North America in search of better living conditions amidst increasing hardships back home.

Summary of Colonial Attitudes

• Spain aggressively claimed territories while imposing their culture; France and the Netherlands engaged cooperatively with indigenous populations for mutual benefit; whereas Britain aimed to establish separate societies away from native peoples while pursuing various personal ambitions such as profit or religious freedom. This led them to adopt an exclusionary stance towards indigenous communities.

Colonial Regions of North America

Overview of the 13 British Colonies

• By 1754, there were 13 distinct British colonies on the eastern coast of North America, grouped into four regions for comparison.

• The focus is on understanding the similarities and differences between these regions and their unique developments.

New England Colonies

• Settled by pilgrims in 1620, who sought to escape religious persecution under King James I and the Anglican Church.

• The Mayflower Compact was signed to establish a government based on majority rule, showcasing an early form of democracy.

• The Massachusetts Bay Colony was established by Puritans, allowing property-owning freemen to vote; however, only strict Puritans were considered freemen.

• Due to harsh winters and rocky land, agriculture was limited to subsistence farming; they developed an export economy focused on fur, timber, and fish.

Middle Colonies

• Comprising New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania; characterized by diversity and trade.

• Unlike New England's homogeneity, this region embraced various cultures with religious toleration as a defining feature.

• Economic activities centered around grain exports due to fertile soil and excellent seaports; merchants from diverse backgrounds facilitated trade.

• Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a refuge for Quakers seeking religious freedom; it featured democratic governance through an elected assembly.

Chesapeake and North Carolina Region

• Jamestown was established as the first English settlement in North America with settlers primarily seeking wealth rather than community building.

• Tobacco became the primary cash crop under John Rolfe’s leadership after initial gold-seeking efforts failed; this shaped societal structure towards plantation-style agriculture.

• Early labor sources included indentured servitude where individuals worked for years in exchange for land upon completion of their service.

The Transition from Indentured Servitude to African Slavery

The Shift in Labor Systems

• Starting in 1619, African slavery began to replace indentured servitude as the primary labor system in the region.

• The Virginia House of Burgesses emerged as a representative government for colonists, though it was limited to landowning men.

Economic Foundations of the British West Indies

• The British West Indies had the highest concentration of enslaved labor due to favorable growing conditions for sugarcane.

• As demand for sugar surged in Europe, the black population outnumbered whites by 4 to 1, leading to heightened tensions among white planters.

Slave Codes and Social Hierarchy

• The Barbados Slave Code stripped rights from black workers and granted complete power to white planters, resulting in brutal punishments.

• South Carolina mirrored the West Indies' plantation model but focused on rice and indigo cultivation, further entrenching slavery within its society.

Economic Interdependence and Trade Networks

• By the mid-period discussed, American colonies established economic stability through participation in transatlantic trade networks.

• The triangular trade involved shipping rum from New England to Africa for enslaved people, who were then sent to the West Indies for sugar or molasses.

Impact on Indigenous Populations

• Millions of American Indians were sold into slavery post-Metacom's war; European goods altered native economies while diseases devastated populations.

Mercantilism: Control Over Colonial Economies

Understanding Mercantilism

• Mercantilism aimed at maintaining a favorable balance of trade by maximizing exports and minimizing imports; wealth was measured by gold and silver reserves.

Colonial Integration into British Economy

• Colonies served as suppliers of raw materials and consumers of manufactured goods under mercantilist policies imposed by Britain.

• Britain's attempts to control colonial economies led to tensions as colonies sought more autonomy during their developmental phase.

Colonial Economic Independence and Salutary Neglect

Impact of British Policies on Colonial Autonomy

• Colonists felt their economic independence was infringed upon by British navigation acts, leading to resentment.

• Many colonists began to ignore these laws without facing punishment, a practice known as salutary neglect. This was due to Britain's distance and ongoing wars with France.

European and Indigenous Relations in North America

• The relationship between Europeans and American Indians was complex, often involving alliances that led to conflicts.

• The Beaver Wars exemplified this complexity, where the Iroquois Confederacy sought expansion into territories already occupied by indigenous groups, drawing European powers into the conflict.

Alliances and Attitudes Towards Indigenous Groups

Differences in European Approaches

• French alliances with indigenous groups contrasted sharply with British attitudes, which were more aggressive and dismissive. This difference is reflected in the alliance systems during conflicts like the Beaver Wars.

• Indigenous groups often formed alliances out of necessity due to increasing European encroachment on their lands.

Responses to European Intrusion: Accommodation vs Conflict

Examples of Accommodation

• The Pueblo Revolt illustrates a conflict response; however, after Spanish re-conquest, they accommodated some Pueblo cultural aspects to maintain control over Santa Fe. This included land grants and leniency towards traditional beliefs.

Example of Conflict: King Philip's War

• Metacom's War (King Philip's War) arose from New England settlers' westward expansion into Wampanoag territory, leading to widespread destruction of Puritan towns before Metacom’s eventual defeat. This significantly weakened future resistance against colonial expansion for indigenous peoples.

Development of Slavery in British Colonies

Transition from Indentured Servitude to African Slavery

• While slavery existed across all colonies due to labor demands for exports, it became more prevalent in southern colonies compared to northern ones.

• Bacon's Rebellion (1676) marked a significant shift from indentured servitude towards African slavery as land availability diminished for former indentured servants seeking autonomy post-service.

The Transition from Indentured Servitude to African Slavery

The Context of Bacon's Rebellion

• Newly freed workers were given less desirable land, often promised to indigenous groups, leading to tensions.

• Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against American Indian settlements due to the colonial government's inaction regarding land disputes.

• Governor William Berkeley fled during the rebellion but returned after Bacon's death to suppress it.

Consequences of the Rebellion

• Although a small conflict, Bacon's Rebellion significantly shifted reliance from indentured servitude to African slavery among wealthy planters.

• Planters sought a more controllable labor force as enslaved Africans began outnumbering them, leading to increased fear and new control measures.

Development of Chattel Slavery

• The term "chattel" defined slaves as property owned by masters, marking a shift in the nature of slavery in British colonies.

• Laws were enacted that established perpetual slavery for children born to enslaved women and prohibited interracial marriage.

Resistance Among Enslaved Populations

• Enslaved individuals engaged in covert resistance by maintaining family structures and cultural practices despite threats of separation.

• Overt resistance was exemplified by the Stono Rebellion in 1739, where enslaved people attacked white settlers before being suppressed.

Impact on Southern Society

• The Stono Rebellion instilled fear among southern planters about potential revolts, resulting in stricter slave codes aimed at preventing future uprisings.

Diversity and Unity in Colonial Society

Demographics of Colonial America

• The 13 British colonies had a diverse population with significant numbers of German (6%) and Scots-Irish (7%) immigrants.

• People of African descent constituted about 20% of the population, primarily concentrated in southern colonies.

Formation of American Identity

• This diversity contributed fundamentally to American identity; colonists recognized themselves as part of various cultures rather than one homogeneous group.

Religious Movements Unifying Colonists

• The Great Awakening emerged as a religious revival starting in the 1730s, encouraging emotional responses over intellectual ones among diverse backgrounds.

The Great Awakening and Enlightenment: Foundations of American Identity

The Great Awakening's Impact

• The Great Awakening was the first mass movement in the American colonies, fostering a national shared identity and belief system.

• It emphasized emotionalism in American Christianity, influencing widespread religious fervor across various regions.

Enlightenment Ideas and Their Influence

• The Enlightenment introduced rationality to educated colonists, with thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau promoting concepts such as natural rights and social contracts.

• These ideas contributed significantly to the development of an American political philosophy, uniting colonists under a unique identity through transatlantic print culture.

Democratic Movements in the Colonies

• Both the Great Awakening and Enlightenment represented democratic movements that encouraged individual empowerment and skepticism towards elites.

Anglicization of the Colonies

Understanding Anglicization

• Anglicization refers to the process by which American colonies began to adopt English customs and culture over time.

Cultural Differences and Social Mobility

• Initially, colonial society differed from British society; there was no titled nobility dominating classes, allowing for more social mobility among some individuals.

Emergence of New Social Classes

• By the end of this period, wealthy merchants in New England resembled English nobility, while elite planters dominated Southern politics.

Governmental Structures

• All colonies adopted similar governmental structures resembling British systems, including governors and bicameral legislative bodies. Local governments provided a degree of autonomy for colonists.

Growing Tensions Between Britain and Colonies

Territorial Settlements Issues

• Population growth led colonists to seek westward expansion into Ohio River Valley, creating tensions with Britain due to previous conflicts with Indigenous peoples.

British Concerns Over Expansion

• Britain aimed to maintain peace with Indigenous groups but feared that westward migration would reignite hostilities or conflict with French claims.

Desire for Self-rule

Salutary Neglect vs. Imperial Control

• Long periods of salutary neglect fostered a sense of independence among colonists until Britain reasserted control through practices like impressment.

Resentment Towards Impressment

• Impressment involved forcing American men into service for Britain's Royal Navy during wars; this practice sparked significant resentment leading to riots in Boston in 1747.

Trade Tensions

Strain on Trade Systems

• Rapid population growth strained existing trade systems that supported colonial lifestyles; increased demand created friction within trade dynamics.

Trade Restrictions and Colonial Resentment

Impact of British Trade Policies on American Colonists

• The stagnant population in Britain and saturation of the American colonial goods market led to a need for Americans to seek new trading partners outside of Britain.

• The Navigation Acts restricted colonial trade exclusively to Britain, causing significant resentment among colonists who felt limited in their trading options.

• In response to these restrictions, American colonists began smuggling goods to other markets, defying the authority imposed by the Navigation Acts.

• This smuggling was initially successful during Britain's period of "salutary neglect," but enforcement of trade laws increased tensions between Britain and the colonies.

• The growing resentment from colonists towards British control over trade contributed significantly to the revolutionary sentiments that would later emerge.