Significant Colonial Leaders PDF

## 2024-25 Social Studies Focus - Grades 5-6 - continued ### Significant Colonial Leaders 1. **Bradford, William** - (1590-1657) He led the Separatist settlers of Plymouth and was the second signer of the Mayflower Compact. He was elected governor 30 times. 2. **Hooker, Thomas** - (1585-1647) A Pu...

## 2024-25 Social Studies Focus - Grades 5-6 - continued ### Significant Colonial Leaders 1. **Bradford, William** - (1590-1657) He led the Separatist settlers of Plymouth and was the second signer of the Mayflower Compact. He was elected governor 30 times. 2. **Hooker, Thomas** - (1585-1647) A Puritan leader and one of the founders of Connecticut, he emigrated first to Holland then to the colonies. He was a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony who left with his congregation and settled in Hartford. He disagreed with John Winthrop over voting rights and thought that any adult male with land should be able to vote. Winthrop maintained that they also had to be a church member. 3. **Hutchinson, Anne Marbury** - (c. 1591-1643) Anne was an intelligent woman and natural leader. When she arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, she took on many roles, including being a midwife, a nurse, and a leader in theological discussions. Hutchinson was excommunicated and banished from the colony for expressing her beliefs. She and many of her followers, who believed as she did, moved to Rhode Island. 4. **Minuit, Peter** - (1580-1638) He came from Germany and was director of the Dutch colony called New Netherland. He founded New Sweden and purchased the land of Manhattan Island from Native Americans for about $680 in today's money. 5. **Oglethorpe, James** - (1696-1785) A British general and member of Parliament, Oglethorpe was a social reformer who founded the colony of Georgia with the intention of sending people from debtors' prisons to his colony in the New World. 6. **Penn, William** - (1644-1718) Penn was a founder and "Absolute Proprietor" of the Province of Pennsylvania, an English North American colony. He was known as an early champion of democracy and religious freedom and for his treaty with the Lenni Lenape. 7. **Raleigh, Sir Walter** - (1551-1618) He led numerous expeditions to the New World and tried to establish colonies at Roanoke twice. Both failed due to starvation or disease. He is best known for his harassment of Spanish ships that carried gold from the New World to Spain. 8. **Rolfe, John** - (1585-1622) He was a colonial leader of Jamestown. He was first to grow tobacco, and he proved that it could be profitably cultivated in the Virginia region and sent back to England. For a time, he held a virtual monopoly on this lucrative tobacco trade. He married Pocahontas, who was the daughter of Chief Powhatan. 9. **Smith, John** - (1580-1631) An English soldier, author, and explorer, he was active in establishing the first permanent English settlement in the Virginia Colony, which was based at Jamestown. He named the area New England. He also mapped the Chesapeake Bay area. 10. **Standish, Myles** (or Miles) - (1584-1656) An English military adviser for the Plymouth Colony, Standish arrived on the Mayflower and was active in governing the colony. 11. **White, John** - (1540-1606) He was an artist and illustrator who made many sketches of landscapes and native people in America on his voyage with Richard Greenville. He became governor of Roanoke Colony and then left to get supplies in 1587. His return was delayed due to England's war with Spain, and he found Roanoke abandoned upon his return. 12. **Williams, Roger** - (1603-1683) He was an English theologian and supporter of religious tolerance, separation of church and state, and fair treatment of Native Americans. He got the original charter to create the colony of Rhode Island. 13. **Winthrop, John** - (1587-1649) A Puritan leader, Winthrop joined the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629 and wanted to purify the Church of England. His ideas caused conflict with the Church of England. Winthrop participated in the group that banished Anne Hutchinson. He believed that the European diseases that killed off native populations were God's way of punishing them for their non-Christian beliefs. ### Important Dates (Dates that are in boldface type are significant.) 1. **1492** - This date marked the beginning of the European exploration period. Christopher Columbus reached the New World. 2. 1539 - Hernando de Soto explored the territory from the Gulf of Mexico to the Ozark Mountains. 3. **1585** - This date marked the beginning of the English colonization period in the New World. Roanoke became the first English colony in the New World when Sir Walter Raleigh reached the mainland under the English flag. The colony disappeared and was reestablished later, only to disappear again. 4. **1607**-Jamestown was established by the British Virginia Company under the leadership of Captain John Smith. Smith instituted a policy of "no work-no food." This meant that those who worked received their share of food, but those who didn't work went hungry. This policy made the colonists work and led to the survival of the colony. He realized that too much time was being spent searching for gold, and the colonists were not spending enough time taking care of their need for food and shelter. The governing of the colony followed rules established in the Instructions for the Virginia Colony - 1606. Colonists traded with the Native Americans and came to know Chief Powhatan and his daughter Pocahontas, who later married John Rolfe. 5. 1608 - Henry Hudson, an Englishman, explored for the Netherlands and the Dutch East India Company along what became the Hudson River. He established Fort Orange as a trading post near what became Albany, New York. 6. **1620** - The Pilgrims arrived in the New World on the Mayflower, landing at what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Mayflower Compact was signed in this same year, defining the rules for governing for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 7. 1636 - This date marked the beginning of the conflict between colonists and Native Americans. The Pequot War started in southeast Connecticut, and continued for a period of two years. 8. 1643 - The New England Federation was established. 9. 1656 - The Quakers came to settle in the area of New England. ### Primary Source Documents 1. Instructions for the Virginia Colony - 1606 - This document included instructions to the colonists who would settle Jamestown. - The instructions suggested finding the best possible place to put a fort, how to explore the land, and ways to fortify the settlement. - It also gave directives about interacting with Native Americans. - A safe port was defined as a place on some navigable river that ran far inland. - The settlement was to be far up the river, a safe distance from the mouth. - A small group was to be located at the mouth of the river to keep watch for any invasion by an enemy fleet. - No other habitation should be between these two points. - If the river had a branch, they were instructed to determine the better position for their settlement. - Before unloading their supplies, it was recommended that the captain explore up the river to be sure it seemed safe. - Some of the characteristics that made an area desirable included open, fertile land that was already fairly cleared and a had good water supply. - As soon as the area was selected, planting was to begin, but not in a swampy area and not using all of the original seeds in case the first crop was a failure. - The carpenters were advised to build a storehouse and a public building before beginning any private housing. - Colonists were encouraged to trade with the Native Americans and to guard against offending them; they were encouraged to stay together and work together for the good of the colony. 2. Mayflower Compact - 1620 - This document was written aboard the Mayflower before it landed in the New World to establish Plymouth Colony. - The intention was to craft a working arrangement that would enable the colonists to work together with just and equal rules for all. - The colonists were fleeing from England and the religious persecution under King James I. - The voyagers who wrote this document were Separatists and Puritans. - The two groups collectively came to be called Pilgrims. - Much of the Compact was written by William Bradford. - The document defined three principles for those making the voyage: - The first was for the glory of God. - The second was for the advancement of the Christian faith. - The third was for the honor of their king and country. - The signers effectively made a 'compact' or pledge to work together to govern the colony and enact "just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices" that they felt were necessary for survival of the colony. - All 41 signers were adult men. - Modifications were later made to the Compact as it was deemed necessary. 3. The Charter of Massachusetts Bay - 1629 - This document represents a method of self-governing in the English colonies in the New World. It was a long and tedious document. - The Massachusetts Bay Company was a joint-stock company made up of merchants and landed gentry who received their charter from the Crown. - With this charter, the colonists took the first step in changing the trading post into a commonwealth. - This charter effectively became a constitution for the colony, and it had the following provisions: - The charter defined the boundaries of the colony and granted all the lands, ports, rivers, waters, fishing, mines, and minerals to the Council at Plymouth with the restriction that 1/5 of all gold and silver ore would be paid to the king or his successor. - Members of the council were identified and granted governing powers and perpetual succession in their positions. - They were instructed to act as one body to govern, make laws, prosecute suits, causes or quarrels, and to answer any claims. - They were given power to buy or sell land and to lease lands. - An annual election of a governor, deputy governor, and a company of 18 assistants was defined, and all were required to be freemen who would govern the colony. - A quorum of seven participants was required for any action. - The initial group filling these offices was appointed. - Members of this group were exempt from paying taxes for seven years and from certain import and export charges for 20 years. - Policies were made for payment of duties or customs on imports and exports. - A regular election day was established. ### Concepts in Economics - The colonies were expected to benefit the homeland and to generate wealth for their mother country; this policy is called mercantilism. - Some goods could only be shipped to England on English ships, while other goods could be sold to anyone as long as an English ship was used. - Once the colonists were established, they proved to be very industrious and provided England with a significant income. ### Major Industries of Colonial America #### New England - This area covered much of what is now six states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. This area began as Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony. - Much of New England's economy was based on the family farm and agriculture. - This area had poor farming conditions but was able to grow corn, pumpkins, squash, and beans after being taught by the Native Americans. - Land was granted in townships to adult males, who then worked the land. - They did not produce much of any one item, but rather they ensured that their families were well-fed and clothed, and led a comfortable lifestyle. - The Hudson River settlements were centered on fur trade and tenant farming. - Furs or pelts were obtained by hunting and trapping. - Most were exported to Europe. - Boston and Portsmouth became shipbuilding centers that were aided by the presence of abundant local timber. - As a result of having available timber, sawmills opened to turn the trees into usable lumber. - Fishing and whaling were major businesses because whale oil was burned in all lamps used by the colonists. Remember, there was no electricity! #### Middle Colonies - This area covered much of what is now four states: Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. It began as New Netherland. - This area was known as the Breadbasket Colonies. - The soil was fertile, and timber was available. - They exported wheat, barley, and rye for profit.