United States History Colonial America (1607-1763) | Concordia University Wisconsin

University:
Concordia University Wisconsin
Course:
HIST 1210 | American Civilization I
Academic year:

2021
Views:

445

Pages:

2
Author:

Raina Flores

Colonial America (1607-1763) The earliest colonies in North America were: o JAMESTOWN, Virginia – settled by businessmen from England who sought to make money by growing and selling tobacco. The area had fertile soil and Virginia grew into a powerful colony of tobacco plantations (large farms where slaves did most of the work). o MASSACHUSETTS BAY (sometimes called Plymouth) – settled by Puritans from England who were seeking religious freedom for themselves. They built towns with small farms on the outskirts. o NEW AMSTERDAM – settled by Dutch traders who resided on Manhattan island. In the beginning, they mainly traded furs, and New Amsterdam was renamed “New York” after the British took over. Each of these colonies was built on the Atlantic Coast close to the water (better for trade). ● Triangular Trade o Led directly to the increased importation of enslaved Africans to the Western Hemisphere (colonies). ● British Mercantilism o Economic policy used by the British in which the American Colonies served as a source of raw materials and a market to sell goods. o British bought raw materials from the colonies and sold them as finished products. o Had limited manufacturing in America, resulting in limited colonies’ trade with other nations. o This policy would eventually become one of the reasons for the American Revolution. ● Salutary Neglect o The British ignored the colonies during this period of time, because they only wanted the economic prosperity of the colonies. o Led to the development of independent colonial trade practices. ● French and Indian War (1754-1763) o Caused by disputed land claims in the Ohio River valley between the French and the British (the French and Indians were on the same side). o War led to the end of the period of Salutary Neglect, because the British needed to tax the American colonists in order to pay for the war. o This increase in taxes became one of the major causes of the Revolutionary War (war for American independence from Great Britain). ● Virginia House of Burgesses/Mayflower Compact/Town Hall Meetings o Early colonial efforts in self-government. o They all contributed to the development of representative democracy. ● Albany Plan of Union (1754) o Early attempt to unify American colonies while under British rule. o Many colonies objected to it because colonial assemblies did not want to give up their individual power.