American history

Chapter Two - The British Colonies Grow Strong 1620-1750

This is another chapter in the text 'Rise of the American Nation' that I used as a student. As I did for chapter one these lectures/lessons will be broken down into smaller chunks, as I learned in my graduate education.

The new world was explored for Europe was not a happy place and the poorer citizens looked to and for a chance for a new beginning. Jamestown was first followed by New England then along the Atlantic seaboard then Georgia in 1733. Now there were 13 colonies and now these pioneers were pushing westward.

Many Englishmen seek fresh starts in North America

Opportunity was the biggest thing for these colonists other than the conflict over religion. During the 1500's Europe was dealing with a lot of religious issues. It all started shortly after Columbus discovered the New World. Usually Europeans were members of the Roman Catholic Church and when a group of men in the church began to question some of the practices and beliefs. One was (write names on the blackboard) Martin Luther in Germany and John Calvin in Switzerland.

They broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and established the 'Protestant' (write this term on blackboard) religion. (Also, write on blackboard the term 'protesting' religious organizations. The Roman Catholics called this movement the 'Protestant revolt' while the Protestants called it the 'Reformation'. (Write both of these terms on the blackboard and define.) This religious conflict was not just a battle of words and ideas. Armies marched and wars were fought and thousands died in battle or were burned at the stake in the name of religion.

England did break from the Catholic Church in 1534 and King Henry VIII established the Church of England or the Anglican Church and the King was the head of this church and every citizen no matter their belief had required by law to belong to this church and contribute to its support.

Search for religious freedom

Many raised objections to the Anglican Church, and the Roman Catholics insisted upon this right to continue worshipping as they always had. The Protestants there were some called 'dissenters' (write on blackboard) who said the Anglican Church too much like the Roman Catholic Church. This was the start of the 'Puritans' (write on blackboard) for they were willing to belong to the Anglican Church, but they tried to reform 'purify' (write on blackboard) it. While other dissenters refused anything to do with the Anglican Church and they broke away and formed their own religious organizations and they became (write this term on the blackboard - 'Separatists', Independents and Nonconformists and the Pilgrims were one of these groups.

The life in England was never easy for dissenters in these ways (write the list on blackboard) 1. men and women persecuted by their neighbors; 2. fined by the government; 3. sometimes sent to jail. The ones who were left went finding (searching) for a place of greater religious freedom that would be in the New World. Years passed and religious refugees that would include Catholic, Jews and Protestants would come from other countries besides England.

Search for Political freedom

For nearly 100 years many Englishmen had dared to express their opinions or the subject of politics. Political problems in England thanks to the first Stuart king James I. In 1603-1625 tried both to make and enforce laws without the consent of 'Parliament' (write this term on blackboard and define). The establishment legislature or law making the body of England.)

James believed in the 'divine right of kings'. (write on blackboard and define or ask the students what it means.) He also insisted that he was responsible to 'no' earthly power for his actions. Most members of Parliament refused to accept this theory of government. James I and Parliament fought and this fight got worse when Charles I became king in 1625 (11 years 1629 - 1640). Charles I ruled without Parliament. Charles's word was law now. 1642 there was a civil war called the 'Puritan Revolution' that broke out. (write this on the blackboard) and it ended in 1649. Charles was beheaded. The next 11 years England was ruled by a group of Puritans with Oliver Cromwell (write this name on blackboard) who was the leader till he died in 1658. This was a long time period of political controversary for whoever was in power and this is why many Englishmen moved to the New World.

Widespread unemployment

During the 1500's and 1600's many of the owners of large estates in England drove tenant farmers from their land and turned the plowed fields into pastures and raised large flocks of sheep. Landowners did this because they could make more money by selling wool than they could by collecting rents. (Ask this question of the students. 'Why was unemployment rising?) There were many displaced farmers that moved to England towns and cities where they found jobs, but there were not enough jobs for all of them and large numbers had no place to go and no way to earn a living and became beggars and wandering the roads. They were eating and sleeping wherever they could find a place.

More desperate people became criminals or 'highwaymen' (term on blackboard) who would pick pockets and thieves. Many were caught and some were hanged on the spot on gallows beside the road as a warning to fellow criminals. Others were shipped to the colonies to work off their debts at hard labor or sit in jail or prison 'a debtor's prison' (write on blackboard) this was if you could not pay your debts for some reason. They remained there still till the debts were paid and sent to one of England's colonies overseas to work off the money owed. People did not give up their search for work and looking for a fresh start, and looking for passage to America (the colonies). 'Indentured servants' (write this term on blackboard) would sign contracts and now called 'indentures'. They promised to work in America without wages for a period varying from two to seven years in return for free transportation to that land of opportunity. (Teacher will write the term 'redemptioners' on the blackboard) They were sold on landing for their passage money and a fee to the ship's captain.

To be continued with 'Economic firmament'

Any hearts and tips would be greatly appreciated for these will be used for further research that I am working on currently.