American Pageant Chapter 2 APUSH Review (Period 2)

Summary

This video script explores the history of the Southern Colonies from 1588 to 1733, highlighting the unique challenges and developments of English colonization in North America. It delves into the establishment of Jamestown as the first permanent English colony, the rise of the tobacco industry, and the transition to a plantation system reliant on indentured servants and, eventually, African slave labor. The script also touches on the political and social tensions that shaped the colonies, including Bacon's Rebellion and the establishment of religious freedom in Maryland. The narrative concludes with the founding of Georgia as a buffer against foreign threats and its eventual shift to a plantation-based economy.

Takeaways

• 🇬🇧 England was a latecomer to colonization, only gaining the power to challenge other countries post-Spanish Armada defeat in 1588.
• 🏰 English colonization was influenced by its Protestant identity, contrasting with the Catholicism of Spain.
• 🤝 Colonies were established through various systems including joint-stock companies, proprietorships, and royal colonies.
• 🚢 The first English attempt at colonization, the Colony of Roanoke under Sir Walter Raleigh, ended with a deserted settlement.
• 🌳 The Chesapeake Bay region, including Virginia and Maryland, was key to the early success of English colonization in North America.
• 🏘️ Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in North America, driven by the motive of wealth.
• 🚨 John Smith's introduction of military discipline and the 'no work, no eat' policy helped stabilize Jamestown.
• 🌱 Tobacco cultivation introduced by John Rolfe provided a cash crop and led to the rise of the plantation system in Virginia.
• 👨‍🌾 Indentured servants were the early labor force in Virginia, but many did not outlive their contracts.
• 🏛️ The House of Burgesses, established in 1619, was an early form of representative government unique to British colonies.
• 🔥 Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 highlighted tensions between the wealthy and the poor, and led to the transition to racial slavery.
• 📜 Maryland, a proprietorship, was unique for offering religious freedom to Christians, particularly Catholics, in 1649.
• 🌱 North Carolina was characterized by small tobacco farming with less reliance on slavery compared to South Carolina.
• 🌾 South Carolina developed a plantation economy based on rice, with a significant reliance on African slave labor.
• 🏝️ The Caribbean colonies, like Barbados and Jamaica, had close economic ties with South Carolina, both relying on cash crops and slave labor.
• 🛡️ Georgia was the last to be established in 1733, initially as a buffer colony and penal colony, but later adopting a plantation-based slave economy.

Q & A

What was the significance of the year 1588 in relation to English colonization?

The year 1588 marked the defeat of the Spanish Armada by England, which positioned England as a powerful nation capable of challenging other countries, particularly Spain, and beginning the process of establishing colonies.

How did the religious differences between England and Spain influence their colonization efforts?

England, being a Protestant country, had different motivations and approaches to colonization compared to largely Catholic Spain, which was part of the broader context of the Protestant Reformation.

What are the three types of colonies mentioned in the script and how were they financed and managed?

The three types of colonies were joint stock companies, where stockholders invested and shared profits or losses; proprietorships, where land was given by the king to individuals or groups; and royal colonies, which were directly financed and ruled by the monarchy.

Why did England's first attempt at colonization, the colony of Roanoke, fail?

The colony of Roanoke failed because when individuals returned in 1590, they found the colony deserted with all the men and women gone, likely due to a combination of factors including disease, conflict with Native Americans, and lack of resources.

What was the role of the Virginia Company of London in the establishment of Jamestown?

The Virginia Company of London was a joint stock company that financed the establishment of Jamestown in 1607. It was set up under a corporate structure where the investors shared in the potential profits and losses of the colony.

How did John Smith's leadership contribute to the survival of Jamestown?

John Smith introduced military discipline and implemented a policy of 'no work, no eat,' which helped stabilize the colony by ensuring that only those who contributed to the community's survival were fed.

What crop introduced by John Rolfe became the economic backbone of the Jamestown colony?

John Rolfe introduced the cultivation of tobacco, which provided the colony with a profitable cash crop and led to the rise of the plantation system.

What was the 'headright' system and how did it affect land distribution in colonial Virginia?

The headright system granted land to individuals who paid for someone's passage to the colony. This led to the wealthy acquiring more land, as they could afford to pay for more indentured servants' journeys, thus increasing their land holdings.

What was the significance of the House of Burgesses in the development of colonial government?

Established in 1619, the House of Burgesses was an early form of representative government and the first of its kind in what would become the United States, marking the beginning of a tradition of self-rule within British colonies.

How did the relationship between the colonists and the Powhatan tribe evolve over time?

The relationship between the colonists and the Powhatan tribe was initially hostile, with tensions increasing as settlers moved west into Native American lands. This led to the Anglo-Powhatan Wars from 1610 to 1646, which ended with the defeat of the Powhatan Confederacy due to factors such as disease, disorganization, and the English's disregard for their well-being.

What factors contributed to the transition from indentured servitude to chattel slavery in colonial Virginia?

The transition to chattel slavery was influenced by several factors, including the outliving of contracts by indentured servants and their subsequent demands on the colony, as well as the need for a more stable and controlled labor force, which led to the increased reliance on African slave labor.

What was the purpose of the Maryland colony and how did it differ from Virginia?

Maryland was a proprietorship colony given to Lord Baltimore by the king. It was unique in that it was established not only for economic reasons, like the cultivation of tobacco, but also for religious freedom, particularly to provide a refuge for Catholics seeking to escape hostility in England.

How did the economic and social structures of South Carolina differ from those of North Carolina?

South Carolina was characterized by large plantations and a reliance on African slave labor, with a focus on cash crops like rice. In contrast, North Carolina had a more small-scale farming economy, with less reliance on slavery and a focus on tobacco farming by smaller farmers.

What was the original purpose of the Georgia colony and how did it change over time?

Georgia was originally established in 1733 as a buffer colony against Spanish and French threats and as a penal colony for debtors. It initially banned slavery and the sale of rum. However, due to a lack of settlers and the need for better defense against threats, these restrictions were eventually dropped, and Georgia became a royal colony with a plantation-based slave economy.