European Colonization Overview

European Colonization

• English, French, and Dutch colonization expanded beyond Spanish colonialism.
• English established claims along the east coast of North America, founding Jamestown and Plymouth.
• The French claimed areas along the St. Lawrence River and the interior, establishing Quebec and Montreal.
• Dutch settlements along the Hudson River included New Amsterdam, which later became New York.

Regions of Thirteen Colonies

Overview of British Colonies

• Three categories of British colonies:
  • Corporate colonies: operated by joint-stock companies.
  • Royal colonies: directly controlled by the king.
  • Proprietary colonies: controlled by individuals with charters from the king.

Chesapeake Colonies

• Comprised Virginia and Maryland.
• First settlement: Jamestown, Virginia (1607).
• Virginia transitioned from corporate to royal; Maryland was established as a proprietary colony.

Politics

• House of Burgesses in Virginia: first representative political institution.
• Voting limited to white male property owners; voting rights evolved to include all males and eventually all citizens.

Economics

• Tobacco emerged as the key crop, leading to a highly unequal land ownership and political power.
• Bacon's Rebellion (1676) exemplified resistance to royal control and unrest among smaller farmers.

Religion

• Maryland implemented the Act of Toleration for Catholics and Protestants, illustrating early religious tolerance in the US.
• Majority of settlers in the 13 colonies were Protestant.

New England Colonies

• Consisted of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
• Massachusetts Bay Colony was a central figure in New England.

Politics

• The Mayflower Compact established self-governance by majority will, an early form of representative democracy.
• Town meetings fostered direct democracy.

Economics

• Harsh soil rendered agriculture difficult; economy revolved around ocean-based trade, logging, and shipbuilding.
• Slavery less prevalent in New England compared to Chesapeake due to fewer agriculture demands.

Religion/Culture

• Puritans followed strict Protestantism; Massachusetts was the center of Puritan life.
• Roger Williams established Rhode Island as a refuge for the banished and religiously persecuted individuals.

Middle Colonies

• Included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
• New York and New Jersey were royal colonies; Pennsylvania and Delaware operated as proprietary colonies.

Economics

• Economy focused on grain export, benefiting from fertile agricultural land.

Religion/Culture

• Most diverse region with the highest religious tolerance.
• Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn for Quakers, welcomed persecuted communities.

Southern Colonies

• Comprised North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia; all classified as royal colonies.

Economics

• Economy centered around intensive plantation agriculture, especially tobacco and sugar, leading to an increase in slavery.
• Also involved subsistence agriculture.

Religion/Culture

• Southern colonies exhibited the least religious diversity and focus compared to other regions.

Transatlantic Trade

Mercantilism

• From the 17th to 19th centuries, European nations pursued mercantilism to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
• Achieved through acquiring colonies that provided raw materials for European manufacturing.

Explore the key events and locations of English, French, and Dutch colonization in North America. This quiz covers significant settlements such as Jamestown, Plymouth, Quebec, Montreal, and New Amsterdam, showcasing the influence of these European powers on the continent.