A COLONIZAÇÃO DA AMÉRICA INGLESA

Summary

This video explains the colonization of English America, focusing on the distinct differences between English, Spanish, and Portuguese colonization. It highlights the challenges faced by England, which delayed their colonization efforts due to internal conflicts, and discusses the mercantilist motives behind English colonization. The video emphasizes the role of religious persecution, especially among Puritans, and explores the economic foundations of the colonies, including the reliance on agriculture and slavery. Additionally, it contrasts the northern colonies' focus on settlement and religious freedom with the southern colonies' plantation economy driven by slave labor.

Takeaways

• 😀 The English colonization of North America was a delayed process compared to Portugal and Spain due to internal political conflicts in England.
• 😀 The colonization efforts were influenced by mercantilism, with initial goals to find precious metals and raw materials.
• 😀 Many English settlers in North America were religious refugees, including Puritans and Calvinists, fleeing religious persecution in England.
• 😀 The colonization was largely driven by private companies, such as the London Company and Plymouth Company, which established the 13 colonies.
• 😀 The Northern colonies were primarily focused on small-scale farming and religious freedom, with a significant number of Puritans involved.
• 😀 The Southern colonies had a more economically-driven focus, with large-scale plantations growing crops like tobacco and cotton.
• 😀 The economy in the Southern colonies relied heavily on African slave labor for plantation agriculture.
• 😀 The North's climate and geography were similar to England's, which helped settlers engage in subsistence farming and small-scale industry.
• 😀 The Northern colonies used a system of indentured servitude, where colonists worked for a set period to pay off their passage to the Americas.
• 😀 The term 'plantation' is used to describe the Southern colonies' system of large land holdings, monoculture crops, and slavery, resembling similar systems in Portuguese colonies.

Q & A

What was the main reason the English colonization of North America was delayed compared to other European countries?

The English colonization of North America was delayed due to internal political conflicts, including the Hundred Years' War and the War of the Roses, which hindered England's ability to focus on overseas expansion during the 15th century.

How did Queen Elizabeth I contribute to the English colonization of North America?

Queen Elizabeth I played a significant role in encouraging English colonization during her reign, particularly after the consolidation of the English monarchy. She authorized exploration and colonization efforts, including the support of private ventures like the establishment of the London Company and Plymouth Company.

What was the initial approach to colonization in North America by the English, and why did it change?

The English initially attempted to colonize North America through privateers (pirates contracted by the crown). However, after failing to find the expected wealth, their strategy shifted towards settlement and colonization for the purpose of establishing permanent colonies.

What role did mercantilism play in the English colonization of North America?

Mercantilism influenced English colonization by motivating the extraction of valuable resources from the colonies, such as raw materials and precious metals. Although North America did not yield the expected wealth, the mercantilist system still shaped the development of the colonies.

Why were religious and political persecuted groups attracted to North America during the English colonization?

Many people who were persecuted for their religious or political beliefs in England, particularly Puritans (Calvinists), saw the colonies in North America as a chance to establish a new life where they could practice their religion freely.

What were the key characteristics of the Northern colonies in English America?

The Northern colonies were primarily founded by religious persecuted groups, such as Puritans, and were characterized by smaller family farms, subsistence farming, and a relatively low reliance on slavery. They also had a more homogenous religious community, with some intolerance toward non-Puritans.

How did the climate and geography of the Northern colonies affect their agricultural practices?

The climate and geography of the Northern colonies, which resembled England, were conducive to the cultivation of crops that could support subsistence farming. This led to a focus on small to medium-sized farms producing a variety of crops, rather than large-scale cash crops for export.

What was the labor system in the Northern colonies, and how did it differ from the Southern colonies?

In the Northern colonies, the labor system was based on free labor, with many settlers working their own land or serving as indentured servants to repay passage fees. In contrast, the Southern colonies relied heavily on enslaved African labor for large-scale agricultural production, especially in plantation-style economies.

What was the significance of the plantation system in the Southern colonies?

The plantation system in the Southern colonies was based on large estates that produced monocultures like tobacco and cotton. This system relied heavily on enslaved African labor and was driven by mercantilist goals, particularly the need to supply raw materials to England's growing textile industry.

How did the English colonies in North America engage in the transatlantic slave trade?

The English colonies, particularly in the South, were heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade. The Northern colonies, despite not having large-scale slavery, indirectly benefited by trading goods like sugar and molasses with Caribbean colonies, which were exchanged for slaves who were then sold in the Southern colonies.