US History Chapter 2 Review

For what three reasons did the Great Model never work out as planned?

(1.) For several years, Carolina did not have enough settlers to put the scheme into operation. (2.) Feudalism is based upon scarcity of land, and land in America was abundant. (3.) Social class in America was judged not by birth, as in Europe, but by accomplishment.

In what two ways was the founding of Georgia unusual?

(1.) It was the

For what three reasons did the English resent the presence of the Dutch in North America?

(1.) New Netherland separated New England from the rest of the English colonies. (2.) The Dutch had a prosperous fur trade with the American Indians. (3.) The Dutch controlled the harbor at New Amsterdam, one of the finest on the Atlantic coast.

the Adventurers

A group of English businessmen, who came to be known as the Adventurers, agreed to finance the Pilgrims' expedition in exchange for a share in the Pilgrims' profits during the first seven years. To help ensure the success of the project, the Adventurers secured additional settlers in England, most of whom were not Separatists.

political freedom in early Maryland

According to Maryland's original charter, laws adopted in the colony could be passed only with the approval of the freemen of the colony. As the colony grew, the freemen elected representatives. Lord Baltimore claimed that he alone had the authority to propose laws for the colony, and that their representatives had the right to propose laws themselves. In time, the colonists' point of view prevailed.

the beginnings of tobacco in America

After John Rolfe taught the Virginia colonists how to grow tobacco, Virginia was soon exporting large quantities of tobacco to Europe, despite opposition from King James I. Tobacco would become a profitable export crop for Virginia and other southern colonies.

Why did England want to colonize the New World?

Although England rivaled against Spain and France in the race for empire in the New World, more than national competition spurred England's colonization effort. The desire of many Englishmen for freedom - religious, political, and economic freedom - motivated them to emigrate to the American colonies.

religious freedom in early Maryland

Although Maryland was founded as a haven for Catholics, not enough Catholics came to the colony to make it prosperous. Baltimore had to recruit others, and soon Protestants outnumbered Catholics in the colony. Because the Catholics feared they might lose religious freedom in their own colony, Maryland passed a Toleration Act to ensure their freedom.

Anne Hutchinson

Anne Hutchinson, "a woman of ready wit and bold spirit," was banished from Massachusetts shortly after Roger Williams's banishment and for the same reason: She disagreed with the Puritan authorities on matters of religion. Exiled in 1637, she and a group of followers established a settlement at Portsmouth, near Providence.

Roger Williams's activism of separation of church and state

At Providence, Roger Williams promoted the separation of church and state. He understood that true Christianity comes not by force but from a willing acceptance of God's Word. Williams insisted that civil government should not interfere with religious affairs and that churches should never use civil force to promote religion. However, he also believed that government should promote morality and order. Realizing that without civil order there can be no true liberty, Williams supported the right and responsibility of civil government to punish those who break the law or conduct themselves in a way that is harmful to the community.

What type of government was the Plymouth colony?

By 1627, the Pilgrims had paid their debt to the English businessmen who financed the founding of the colony. Under the authority of the king of England, the Pilgrims could now govern themselves. Plymouth remained a virtually self-governing colony until 1691, when it was absorbed by the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony.

How did New Netherland become New York?

By the mid-1600s, the Dutch found themselves squeezed between growing English colonies to the north and south. When, in 1664, England and Holland teetered on the brink of war, King Charles II granted New Netherland to his brother, the Duke of York. In honor of its new proprietor, the king renamed it New York. Soon a fleet of English warships sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam to take control of the colony. The Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant insisted on putting up a fight, but the townspeople saw the cause was hopeless and refused to support him. Thus, New Netherland passed peaceably into British hands.

Who founded New Hampshire and how?

Captain John Mason founded New Hampshire in the 1620s when he and Sir Fernando Gorges attempted to found settlements in northern New England under the auspices of the Council of New England. New Hampshire met with little success, however, and for several years was merely a trading post in the wilderness. Then pioneers from Massachusetts Bay began to move into New Hampshire for fertile land, and Massachusetts assumed control of the region. New Hampshire remained a part of Massachusetts until 1679, when a charter was granted making it a separate colony.

How did Charles I threaten freedom in England?

Charles I was the successor to the throne of England who went a step further than James I (who had claimed absolute authority in England by the theory of divine right). In 1629, Charles I vowed to rule without Parliament, threatening English liberties as never before. It soon became evident that renewed religious persecution would follow this breach of political freedom.

What happened when Connecticut became a colony?

Connecticut was founded without the official sanction of the King of England. In 1662, Charles II granted Connecticut a charter, making it an official, self-governing colony. In 1664-1665, New Haven (originally settled as a separate Puritan colony) merged with Connecticut, expanding the colony's territory.

legacy of America's Puritan heritage

Despite their faults, the Puritans endowed America with a rich heritage, promoting biblical morality, individual responsibility, industry, frugality, and education. One important part of this heritage is the Puritan work ethic, the belief that work is a gift of God and a way to glorify Him. Later descendants of the early New England Puritans were often called "Yankees," a term that referred to their hard work, industry, and keen business sense.

How was Delaware founded?

Early in his colonizing venture, William Penn saw that Pennsylvania needed access to the Atlantic coast. In 1682, he convinced the duke of York to grant him the southern portion of New York. This grant remained a part of Pennsylvania until 1704, when Penn organized it into the separate proprietary colony of Delaware.

William Brewster (1567-1644)

Elder William Brewster served for many years as the Pilgrims' pastor and played a huge role as a leader for the Pilgrims.

Describe England's first attempts to settle the New World, involving Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh.

England's first attempts to settle the New World were doomed to failure. In 1578, Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, left England with a fleet of ships bound for the New world, but bad weather forced them back. Five years later, Gilbert tried again. This time, he reached Newfoundland and claimed it for Queen Elizabeth, but the weather again forced his expedition to return to England. On the way back, Gilbert's ship was caught in a storm and all aboard were drowned.

How did William Penn make his colony successful?

He composed a series of glowing, although perfectly honest, descriptions of his colony and had them circulated in England and on the continent of Europe. He sold land to settlers at a reasonable cost and even rented to those who could not afford to buy. He maintained peace with the Indians by treating them fairly and paying them for the lad. He maintained a policy of religious freedom for all who professed a belief in "one almighty and eternal God." Finally, he maintained a relatively democratic system of government in his colony. Within four years of its founding, Pennsylvania had almost 9,000 settlers.

John Cabot

He was an Italian navigator sailing for England who explored the eastern coast of North America from Labrador to Virginia in 1497. Cabot became the first explorer in the Modern Age to set foot on the mainland of North America. His exploration of "New-found-land" (Newfoundland) gave England her first and only solid claim in the New World.

the patroon system

Hoping to encourage settlement, the Dutch established a patroon system in their colony. Under this system, the Dutch West India Company granted large tracts of land along a navigable river to individuals called patroons. In return, each patroon would transport 50 people to the New World to settle on his land. The patroon had extensive powers over his land and the people who settled on it. The patroon system actually discouraged settlement, however, because it offered little political freedom.

Sir Martin Frobisher

In 1576, Queen Elizabeth I sent explorer Sir Martin Frobisher in search of the "Northwest Passage."

What was the beginning of the slave trade in British North America?

In 1619, a Dutch ship arrived from Africa with about 30 black servants to be sold to the settlers. Apparently these first Africans were purchased as indentured servants rather than slaves. However this began the huge American slave trade. In the years ahead, millions of black Africans were captured on the west coast of Africa and transported to the New World to be sold as slaves.

the Society of Friends (the Quakers)

In 17th-century England, there arose a religious group who called themselves the Society of Friends; others called them Quakers. These religious dissenters separated themselves from the Church of England because they disagreed with its doctrine and practice. The Quakers believed that each man should follow his "inner light," worshiping God from the heart. They followed no prescribed system of worship, had no ministers, and met in simple "meeting houses" instead of formal churches. They were also pacifists, refusing to defend themselves or to participate in military service. As a result of their dissenting, they faced persecution in England and even in most of the colonies.

the Pilgrims' separation of church and state

In England, the Separatists had come to realize that as long as civil government tries to control the people's religion, there can be no true political liberty. Thus, in its early years, Plymouth had no established churches. this religious liberty contributed to political liberty, for Plymouth had no religious qualifications for voters or office holders. The Strangers and Separatists were able to live and work together because they respected each other's rights.

the New England Confederation

In May 1643, delegates from Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven assembled in Boston and formed the New England Confederation, or League of Friendship, the first voluntary American union. (Rhode Island was not asked to join because the Puritans considered most of its inhabitants to be heretics.) The colonies maintained their independence but cooperated through an elected board of commissioners mainly for the purpose of defense against hostile Indian tribes, the Dutch, and the French. After King Philip's War, the confederation seemed less necessary, and bickering among the member colonies created problems. The New England Confederation finally dissolved in 1684, but it set an important precedent for voluntary union of the colonies.

When did British Parliament develop?

It developed in the 1200s (it paved the way for more representative government).

congregationalism

It is the theory of church government which says that every body of believers should be independent and self-governing. The persecuted Separatists believed strongly in this theory and opposed any civil authority that interfered with the right of the individual to exercise religious freedom.

What was the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and who settled it and when?

Jamestown, Virginia, settled by the London Company in 1607

John Winthrop (1588-1649)

John Winthrop was chosen to be governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company's colony. He enlisted recruits to Massachusetts and made preparations for the voyage.

King Philip's War

King Philip's War was a fierce Indian uprising in 1675-1676 led by a Wampanoag chief called King Philip. The New England Confederation's greatest triumph came in putting down this uprising.

How did the absolute monarchs try to justify their absolute authority?

Knowing their practices went against the English constitution, the rulers claimed the "divine right of kings." According to this theory, absolute monarchy is the only form of government sanctioned by God; thus monarchs have absolute authority in all matters - political, civil, and religious. They can do no wrong and cannot be criticized by anyone for their policies.

Magna Carta

Magna Carta means "Great Charter"; King John signed it in 1215 to help prepared England for limited representative government.

Why was it called the "the Little Baptist State of Rhode Island"?

Many Baptists came to Rhode Island to flee persecution. Baptists played a very large role in the establishment of Rhode Island and its system of government.

Toleration Act of 1649

Maryland's act that granted freedom of worship to anyone "professing to believe in Jesus Christ." This toleration did not extend to Jews, Muslims, atheists, or other non-Christians.

the backgrounds of the passengers on the Mayflower

Only 35 of the passengers aboard the Mayflower belonged to the Leyden congregation. The others were almost all non-Separatists, or "Strangers", as the Separatists called them. Most of the Strangers were Anglicans seeking better economic opportunities in the New World. However, the Separatists and Strangers were able to live and work together because both hared a great respect for the Bible and strongly believed in political and religious freedom.

the evolution of the colony of New Jersey

Over the years, the colony of New Jersey changed hands several times. For a time, it was divided into East Jersey and West Jersey. Under the ownership of Quakers, it became a haven for these people to practice their religion undisturbed. In 1702, the proprietors gave up their rights to New Jersey, and it became a dependency under the authority of the governor of New York. New Jersey finally became a separate royal colony with its own governor in 1738.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, "the city of brotherly love," was what William Penn named the city he arrived in, along with a large number of other colonists in 1681. It became an important trading center and the largest city in the colonies.

Why were they called "our Pilgrim Fathers"?

Plymouth became a shining light for the principles of political and religious freedom that would eventually take root in America. The Pilgrims founded a successful society because they followed the biblical principles laid down for Christian citizens. They maintained the proper relationship to God, to civil authorities, and to their fellow people.

Separatists

Puritans who withdrew from the Church of England and formed their own churches

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I reigned 1558-1603, during a time that the English people had access to the Bible in their own language as never before. Under her rule, England enjoyed stability and relative prosperity. Elizabeth's encouragement of foreign trade and exploration enriched England's economy and strengthened her claim in the New World.

John Rolfe

Rolfe was one of the most famous Virginia settlers, who married the Native American princess Pocahontas, daughter of the powerful chieftain Powhatan. Rolfe taught the Virginia colonists how to grow tobacco, a crop used by the Native Americans.

Who founded Maine and how?

Sir Fernando Gorges founded Maine in the 1620s when he and Captain John Mason attempted to found settlements in northern New England under the auspices of the Council of New England. Maine met with little success, however, and for several years was merely a trading post in the wilderness. Then pioneers from Massachusetts Bay began to move into Maine for fertile land, and Massachusetts assumed control of the region. Maine would remain a part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it was made a separate state.

Squanto

Squanto had visited England and learned to speak English there. Although many friendly Indians helped the Pilgrims after their first winter, Squanto played an especially large role in getting them back on their feet. Squanto served the pilgrims as a guide and interpreter, teaching them how to hunt, fish, and plant crops in the New England wilderness.

the Scrooby congregation

Starting in 1606, Pastor John Robinson led an independent church of Separatists in Scrooby, England. When persecution became severe in England, the congregation decided to flee to Holland, where they could worship freely. In 1609, Pastor Robinson led a group of about 300 to the Dutch city of Leyden, where they enjoyed religious freedom and economic success. In 11 years, the Scrooby congregation increased to over 1,000. The Dutch people came to respect the Separatists for their honesty and diligence, but the Separatists resolved not to stay in Holland permanently.

the Duke of York's government of New York

The Duke of York allowed the Dutch to continue living in New York undisturbed, but the colony experienced much political unrest because the duke would not allow representative government. When the Duke of York inherited the British throne and became King James II, New York became a royal colony (because its proprietor was king). After James II was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, William and Mary granted New York a representative assembly. New York remained a royal colony, however, until America's War for Independence.

What were proprietary colonies, and what was the problem with them?

The English founded several proprietary colonies, beginning with Maryland in 1632. These colonies were based on land grants made by the king to individual proprietors or owners. In a sense, these grants were an attempt to transfer the feudal system of Old England to the New World. Within certain limits, the proprietor could govern his colony as he pleased. However, in most proprietary colonies, there was a long struggle for power between the proprietary and the colonists. by the early 18th century, the proprietary colonies were about as democratic as the other colonies. Feudalism failed to take hold in America.

the General Court

The General Court was the Pilgrims' direct democratic legislative body which met periodically to pass laws, carry out provisions of the law, and judge cases and controversies arising under the law. For several years, the General Court consisted of all freemen. The first freemen were the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact. Each year, the freemen admitted other qualified people to their ranks. To be a freeman, you had to be male, at least 21 years old, of good reputation, and a permanent settler. When, in 1639, the population growth made it impractical for all freemen to assemble in the General Court, Plymouth switched from a direct democracy to a representative democracy. Instead of attending the General Court personally, the freemen of each town elected "deputies" to represent them in the General Court.

the Pilgrims' first winter

The Pilgrims' first winter in the cold North was difficult. Food and shelter were inadequate and the settlers were plagued by illness. At one point, only seven of them were strong enough to care for the sick and bury the dead. By early spring, half of the settlers had died. Yet the Pilgrims remained determined, with God's help, to make a home in America. When the crew of the Mayflower set sail for England in April 1621, none of Plymouth's survivors were on board.

three important political principles of the Puritans

The Puritans believed (1.) that government should be limited by the consent of the governed, (2.) that citizens should participate in government by choosing their leaders, and (3.) that government should protect private property.

Thomas Hooker (1586?-1647) and how he founded Connecticut

The best known of the Connecticut pioneers, Thomas Hooker was a graduate of Cambridge University who came to Massachusetts during the "Great Migration" an assumed the pastorate of the Puritan church in Newtown (present-day Cambridge). A man of vision, Hooker wanted to lead his congregation to new territory along the Connecticut River, where they could enjoy more political freedom and take advantage of the rich, fertile soil. In 1635, the Massachusetts General Court grudgingly gave Hooker and other Massachusetts settlers permission to move to the frontier. Hooker joined other settlers in 1636 and founded Connecticut, where the towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsfor were soon established.

How did the absolute monarchy issue result in emigration to America?

The drive for absolute authority led to a running conflict between the Crown and Parliament, prompting many freedom-loving Englishmen to emigrate to America. Later, when a Puritan Parliament had the upper hand under Oliver Cromwell, the tables were turned, and many supporters of the monarchy also fled to America.

How was New Jersey founded?

The land between the Hudson and Delaware rivers was originally part of New Netherland. When the Duke of York took possession of this Dutch colony in 1664, he gave this land to two noblemen, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley, who called it "New Jersey," after the island of Jersey in the English Channel. To attract settlers, they offered land on easy terms and religious freedom. Many settlers came to New Jersey to enjoy this freedom, including many Baptists and Scottish Covenanters.

the Grand Model

The political system of Carolina, called the Grand Model, was the most ambitious attempt to establish a system of feudalism in the New World. It would have divided land and political power among settlers on the basis of an elaborate social order.

"starving time"

The winter of 1609-1610 was called the "starving time." It occurred after an injury forced Captain John Smith to return to England and resulted in Jamestown again teetering on the brink of failure. Hungry settlers were forced to eat dogs, horses, and even rats and mice. Although several hundred colonists had joined the colony since 1607, only 60 remained alive by the spring of 1610. With the coming spring, the survivors prepared to abandon the colony and return to England. But just as they were leaving, several ships arrived from England with supplies and more settlers, so the colonists decided to stay.

the Mason-Dixon line

When Charles II made the land grant for William Penn to found Sylvania in 1681, he was not careful to observe the boundaries of land already given away in the New World. This led to a longstanding land dispute between the Penn family and the family of Lord Baltimore. The dispute was resolved around 1756 when the Mason-Dixon line was surveyed.

How did William Penn found Pennsylvania?

William Penn (1644-1718) was a Quaker and the son of a wealthy and prestigious Englishman. Charles II owed Penn's father a large sum of money; when Penn's father died, Penn inherited the claim. He convinced the king to repay the debt with land grant in the New World. In 1681, Charles II granted him the land of Sylvania (forest land) which lay north of Maryland and west of the Delaware River. The king insisted that the land be called Pennsylvania, in honor of Penn's father.

the "Holy Experiment"

William Penn called his undertaking of Pennsylvania the "Holy Experiment." His main purpose for founding the colony was to create a haven for Quakers where they could practice their religion free of harassment. Penn resolved to make his experiment succeed.

Peter Minuit

acting agent of the Dutch West India Company who purchased Manhattan Island from the American Indians for trading goods worth about $24.00

Henry Hudson

an English sea captain who explored the Hudson and Delaware river valleys for the Dutch East India Company in 1609

When did the English kings try to establish an absolute monarchy (ruling by their own dictates, disregarding English law)?

between 1603 and 1649

the two largest groups of dissenters

the Catholics and the Puritans

St. Mary's

the first settlement in Maryland, along the shores of Chesapeake Bay

Pennsylvania Dutch

the name for Pennsylvania's German settlers, because the English were not careful in their pronunciation of "Deutsch"

Dissenters

those who opposed the Church of England

Fort Orange

trading settlement in New Netherland at the location of present-day Albany

Amsterdam

trading settlement in New Netherland at the location of present-day New York City

Explain the three economic hardships (inflation, a shortage of land, and unemployment) that plagued the English people during the 17th century.

(1.) As Spanish gold and silver flowed into England through trade or piracy, it increased the amount of capital in circulation, causing inflation. Although the common people saw little of this gold and silver, they felt its effects in the form of rising prices. (2.) For centuries, the English economy had centered on farming. Many English farmers rented small parcels of land from landholders for the production of food crops. But as the demand for wool increased, landholders began to evict tenant farmers and enclose their fields or hedges in order to raise sheep. This Enclosure Movement left thousands of peasant farmers without land or a place to live. (3.) The Enclosure Movement contributed to the growing number of unemployed people in England. Unemployment forced many honest but unfortunate Englishmen into debtor's prison, where they were held until they could pay their debts. because they could not raise money to pay their debts while in prison, however, many remained imprisoned indefinitely.

Describe the three separate groups of people (sovereigns, businessmen, and settlers) who took part in the English effort to colonize America.

(1.) Compared to the sovereigns of France and Spain, the sovereigns of England showed little interest in colonizing America, but when they did, it was usually to bring wealth, honor, and prestige to their homeland. For the most part, it was private initiative, not government, that prompted the founding of English colonies in America. (2.) Many of the English colonies were founded or at least sponsored by businessmen who hoped to make a profit and better themselves, as well as others. Many of these investors saw the colonies as a chance to benefit their entire nation - by helping settlers get established, creating jobs, encouraging trade, and bringing new wealth into the country. (3.) The settlers who actually came to live in America did so for a variety of reasons. The lure of adventure and financial gain certainly drew many. But the strongest motivation was a desire for freedom - religious, political, and economic freedom.

three of the influential members of the Plymouth colony, who were non-Separatists

(1.) Miles Standish (1584?-1656), who served as commander-in-chief of the Pilgrims' military defense force, (2.) John Alden (1599?-1687), who held various political offices in the colony, and (3.) Alden's wife, Priscilla Alden (1602?-1685?)

three problems with the early Jamestown settlement

(1.) The low-lying land was infested with malaria, (2.) the river water was contaminated, and (3.) most of the colonists were either too lazy or too proud to work. Thus, by the end of the first winter, half of the settlers had died.

three reasons why the Separatists resolved not to stay in Holland permanently

(1.) They did not want their children exposed to the worldliness of Dutch society, (2.) they were concerned that their children could not get a proper education, and (3.) they were proud of their English heritage and wanted their children to grow up as Englishmen, not as Dutchmen.

Council for New England

After an unsuccessful attempt to found a colony in present-day Maine, the Plymouth Colony reorganized in 1620 under a new name, the Council for New England. Under this name, the group attempted to start several more colonies in Maine and New Hampshire but met with little success.

How was Carolina divided into the North and South Carolinas?

Almost from the start, Carolina naturally divided into two sections. In the north, a settlement of poorer people from the Virginia frontier, joined by a few Quakers, developed around Albemarle Sound. These settlers worked small farms, and remained relatively poor. In the south, colonists of various backgrounds and religious faiths developed the settlement of Charles Town (Charleston). some settlers came from England, but many came from New England, Northern Ireland, Germany, and the British West Indies. A number of French Huguenots came to Charles Town for religious freedom. The differences between the northern and southern Carolina settlements were too great, and in 1712, the land grant was officially divided into the separate colonies of North Carolina and South Carolina. By 1729, the Carolinas had become royal colonies.

How was New Netherland (before it was New York) founded?

Although New York did not become an English colony until the 1660s, the settlement of the region actually began in the early 1600s with the Dutch. In 1609, the Dutch East India Company was already exploring the region. By 1621, the Dutch West India Company had obtained rights to colonize the area and develop trade. The Dutch settlements that grew up along the Hudson and Delaware rivers made up the colony of New Netherland, a thriving center of trade occupied by a variety of people.

John Carver (1576-1621)

Before coming ashore, the Pilgrims had elected John Carver to be their first governor. However, he was unable to serve the Pilgrims for long, as he died in the spring of 1621.

Dominion of New England

Between 1686 and 1689, James II united the New England colonies, as well as New York and New Jersey, under the Dominion of New England, in order to bring the colonies under subjection with Sir Edmund Andros as governor. The Dominion dissolved after England's "Glorious Revolution" took place in 1688; James II fled England, and Parliament gave the crown to the Prince and Princess of Orange, William and Mary. When the New England colonies received word of the revolution in 1689, they quickly deposed Gov. Andros, and the Dominion of New England collapsed.

the "Great Migration"

By the fall of 1630, the Puritans had established Boston and several other towns. Despite many hardships, the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew rapidly. The persecution that they had anticipated came in 1633, sparking a "Great Migration" of Puritans to the New World for religious freedom. By 1642, some 25,000 Puritans had emigrated to New England.

Roger Williams's activism of American Indian rights

From the time he arrived in America, Williams's respect for the rights of others led him to befriend the Indians. He always treated them fairly, purchasing land from them, without cheating or deceiving them as some did. He learned the language of his Indian neighbors in Rhode Island and, in 1643, published a book called Key into the Language of America. This book not only analyzed the language of the Indians, but also served as a textbook on how to evangelize them. Over the years, Roger Williams was often able to pacify the Indians and prevent bloodshed between Indians and settlers.

the Mayflower Compact

Having landed so far north, the Pilgrims found themselves outside the limit of their charter and outside the jurisdiction of the London Company. They had no legal right to settle and no basis for civil government. Therefore, the Pilgrims took a step which was to be a milestone in human history. Before they went ashore, 41 men gathered in the cabin of the Mayflower to draw up and sign what has become known as the Mayflower Compact. The compact reinforced their loyalty to England and established a "civil body politic" in America. Although it did not actually set up a government, it expressed that the people were willing to show due submission to "such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought more meet and convenient for the general good of the colony."

Leonard Calvert

He actually came to the Calverts' colony of Maryland and became its first governor. Under the leadership of Leonard, Maryland prospered and grew steadily.

Cecilius Calvert

He was George's son and the second Lord Baltimore, who carried out the project of colonization in Maryland. A Roman Catholic, Calvert intended Maryland to be a haven for English Catholics, who were not allowed to practice their religion freely in Protestant England. Cecilius never came to Maryland himself; he sent the first two shiploads of settlers, some 200 people, to Maryland in 1634, and sent his younger brother, Leonard, to be governor.

Sir Edwin Sandys

He was an English Puritan nobleman whose aid the Pilgrims enlisted to make arrangements for their voyage to the New World. Sandys helped the Pilgrims secure a patent from the London Company in 1620 to settle within its Virginia territory

George Calvert

He was the first Lord Baltimore, to whom King Charles granted a large territory north of the Potomac River in 1632, called Maryland in honor of Charles's queen, Henrietta Maria. George Calvert died before the charter was issued.

Henry VIII

Henry VIII was an English king who broke England's ties with the Roman church in the 1530s because of personal problems, unintentionally helping the English people who were ready for a split with Rome. However, he did not really change official church doctrine; he simply made himself the head of England's official church.

Sir Francis Drake

In 1577, Sir Francis Drake embarked on a three-year voyage that was to make him the first Englishman to sail around the world. In his ship, the Golden Hind, he crossed the Atlantic and passed through the Strait of Magellan. He then sailed up the Pacific Coast as far as California, which he claimed for England, calling it Nova Albion ("New England"). As he journeyed, Drake looted Spanish ships and settlements along the coast of North America. He then sailed across the Pacific and Indian oceans, around Africa, and back to England. When Drake finally arrived in England in 1580, Queen Elizabeth I met him at the dock and knighted him on the deck of his own ship.

the first two explorations of the New World that Sir Walter Raleigh sponsored

In 1584, Raleigh sponsored an expedition which explored Albemarle Sound and the land of Roanoke off the coast of present-day North Carolina. He named the territory Virginia for Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen." In 1585, Raleigh sponsored another expedition which made a short visit to Roanoke.

the mystery of the Roanoke colony

In 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh sent John White with a party of over 100 settlers to establish a settlement on Chesapeake Bay. Instead, they settled at Roanoke. When, after a month in the colony, White sailed back to England for supplies, he found the nation preoccupied with the Spanish Armada. After a delay of several years, White returned to Roanoke in 1590 to find that the entire colony had vanished, leaving only a few relics and the world "Croatoan" carved on a tree. The fate of the Roanoke colony remains a mystery to this day.

the Virginia Charter

In 1606, King James I granted the Virginia Charter to permit two joint-stock companies to undertake colonization in Virginia. The company centered in London (the London Company) was to settle southern Virginia, and the company centered in Plymouth (the Plymouth Company) was to settle northern Virginia. The charter outlined how the colonies should be governed and guaranteed that they would enjoy the same rights and liberties as Englishmen abiding in the home country.

Captain John Smith and private enterprise

In 1608, Captain John Smith took charge of the Jamestown colony and saved it from destruction. He established a system of private enterprise based on the biblical principle that any who would not work should not eat (2 Thess. 3:10). Under this capitalistic system, individuals were free to make a living and prosper on their own enterprise. This system provided the incentive necessary for the production of sufficient crops for the colony.

House of Burgesses

In 1619, the people of the various districts of Virginia sent delegates, called burgesses, to a representative assembly in Jamestown. Collectively known as the House of Burgesses, this assembly acted as an advisory body to the governor of the colony. Although its recommendations could be vetoed, the House of Burgesses set an important precedent for representative government in early America.

the first Thanksgiving

In 1621, the Council for New England granted the Pilgrims a patent, recognizing their right of settlement. When they reaped a corn that fall, Governor Bradford called for a three-day feast which we remember as the first Thanksgiving. There, Indians joined the pilgrims as they celebrated, feasted, heard the Bible read publicly, and gave thanks to God for His many blessings.

Massachusetts Bay Company

In 1629, Charles I issued a charter for the formation of the Massachusetts Bay Company, a joint-stock company composed primarily of Puritan businessmen. This charter granted the company a tract of land in territory controlled by the Council for New England. The charter failed to stipulate that the company's headquarters must remain in England. A group of prominent and influential Puritans saw in the company a unique opportunity for Puritans to find religious freedom in America. The company's Puritan stockholders who intended to migrate to the New World bought the shares of those who wished to remain in England, enabling the Puritans to take the charter with them to New England and establish a virtually self-governing colony. This would keep non-Puritans from buying into the organization and would guarantee the Puritans perpetual control of their company. Eventually, 12 wealthy Puritan businessmen took control and brought the company on a fleet of 11 ships carrying 700 passengers to set sail for Massachusetts in March 1630.

the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

In 1639, the people of Connecticut were ready to establish their own independent government. They met at Hartford and adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, considered to be the first written constitution in America. In this charter, the people established a representative government and designated the kinds of powers that government should possess, setting an important precedent for government by the people and for the people.

Bacon's Rebellion

In 1675, American Indians attacked a few frontier settlements in western Virginia. In 1676, the frontiersmen appealed to Governor Berkeley for protection, expecting him to send a military force, but he failed to respond. Some accused him of caring more for his prosperous fur trade with the Indians than for the welfare of frontier settlements. Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy young plantation owner, offered to lead a volunteer militia against the Native Americans, insisting that frontiersmen were entitled to the same protection as established colonists in Jamestown, but Berkeley rejected his offer. Already disgruntled by what they considered to be unfair taxes, the frontiersmen followed Bacon and pursued the Indians against the governor's wishes. When Berkeley accused Bacon and his men of rebellion, the frontiersmen marched on to Jamestown and burned it to the ground, forcing Berkeley to flee to the coast. Bacon soon fell ill and died, however, and Bacon regained power. Although Bacon's methods and motives were questionable, Bacon's Rebellion indicated that Americans expected their government to protect all citizens.

indentured servants

Indentured servants met the need for a larger labor force due to the abundant tobacco crop. An indentured servant was one whose passage to America was paid by an established colonist. In return, the servant worked for his benefactor without pay for an agreed-upon period of time, usually four to seven years. Having fulfilled his contract, the servant became a free man. Many poor people came to the American colonies as indentured servants and, after fulfilling their obligations, became prosperous colonists.

Northwest Passage

It was the supposed water route through North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific. By finding this passage, Queen Elizabeth I hoped to break the Spanish monopoly on overseas trade, frustrating Spain's attempt to dominate the Age of Exploration.

Sir Edmund Andros

James II appointed Sir Edmund Andros as the Royal Governor of the Dominion of New England. The colonists disliked Andros because he curtailed liberties, imposed heavy taxes, and refused to listen to their point of view. He was forced back to England after the Dominion of New England collapsed.

Jamestown's common-store system

Jamestown's biggest problem was the common-store system established by its charter. Under this communal system, each man was required to place the fruit of his labor in a common storehouse, and each was entitled to receive food and supplies from the storehouse according to his needs. In reality, the industrious workers were required to provide for the idle. With everyone benefiting from the common storehouse but few contributing to it, the food supply was quickly depleted. America's first experiment with a form of Communism failed miserably.

John Wycliffe (1320?-1384)

John Wycliffe was nicknamed the "Morning Star of the Reformation" because he exposed false doctrines of the Roman church and had the entire Bible translated into English for the first time in the 14th century, 200 years before the Protestant Reformation.

the Mayflower arriving at the New World

On November 9, 1620, after 66 days at sea, the Mayflower finally reached the shores of North America. Having been blown off course by a storm, she landed far to the north of Virginia, outside the territory of the London Company, where the Pilgrims had permission to settle. With winter fast approaching, the Pilgrims decided to remain where they had landed. On November 11, they maneuvered the ship into Cape Cod harbor. After the Mayflower Compact was signed, they finally stepped ashore at a place they called New Plymouth (after Plymouth, England, from which they had sailed) on December 21, 1620.

How and why did Roger Williams found Rhode Island?

Roger Williams (1603?-1683) came to Massachusetts in 1631, not as a true Puritan but as a separate congregationalist. Williams disagree with the leaders of the Bay Colony on several matters. (1.) While the Puritans remained a part of the Church of England, Williams contended that they should complete separate themselves from it. (2.) He insisted that church officers should not interfere in civil matters and that civil officers should not attempt to enforce church policies. (3.) He criticized the Puritans for taking land that rightly belonged to the Indians. Roger Williams's reputation of integrity as a minister could not be questioned. Even his staunchest opponent, John Winthrop, called him a "godly minister." But because his preaching threatened the "city upon a hill," the General Court banished Williams from the colony in 1635. Williams spent the winter in the wilderness with friendly Indians; then, in the spring of 1636, he journeyed to the shores of Narragansett Bay, in what is now Rhode Island. There he founded a settlement he called Providence, from the "sense of God's merciful providence unto me in my distress." In 1644, Parliament issued a charter combining the four settlements in Rhode Island under one government, but Roger Williams wanted a charter that would specifically provide for separation of church and state. The Puritans who controlled Parliament refused to grant such a charter. Finally, in 1663, after the English Restoration, Charles II granted Williams a charter that provided for separation of church and state and guaranteed religious liberty to all.

How did Puritan civilization become known as "a city upon a hill"?

The Puritans who sailed to Massachusetts in 1630 had not yet experienced persecution for their religious beliefs; they only anticipate coming persecution. They left England for a more noble purpose than mere escape. They intended to build a society that would fully embody what they understood to be God's truth. They hoped to offer the world a complete example of Christian civilization. As the Puritans sailed to the New World, Governor Winthrop challenged his people with these now famous words: "...for we must consider that we should be as a City upon a hill, the eyes of all people [shall be] upon us."

the voyage of the Speedwell and the Mayflower

The Speedwell was the ship that the Pilgrims hired to carry a small portion of the Leyden congregation from Holland to the New World. The others, including Pastor John Robinson, would remain in Holland until they could raise enough money to join their brethren. The Speedwell sailed to England first, where recruits secured by the Adventurers were waiting aboard the Mayflower. Twice the ships set sail for America, and both times the Speedwell sprang leaks, forcing the Pilgrims to return to port. Finally, they had to abandon the Speedwell. As many of its passengers as possible crowded aboard the Mayflower, and the rest stayed behind for a future passage. Finally, on September 6, 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, for the New World, with, in addition to officers and crew, "about a hundred souls."

What were joint-stock companies, and why were they formed?

The experiences of Sir Walter Raleigh and others had proven that a great deal of money would be needed to found a successful colony in the North American wilderness. Thus, groups of English businessmen began to organize joint-stock companies. In the joint-stock company, a forerunner of the modern corporation, several businessmen invested stock in a single company to support a colonizing venture.

What was the political structure of early Connecticut?

The founders of Connecticut wanted more political freedom than they had enjoyed in Massachusetts. Although one did not have to be a member of the established church in order to vote, there still was no separation of church and state. Only freemen were allowed to vote, and the General Court only admitted orthodox Puritans as freemen. There was a broader base of political participation in Connecticut than in Massachusetts, but still only Puritans could live at peace within the colony.

Who were the Pilgrims?

The people of the Scrooby congregation who left all to build a new life in the North American wilderness and to evangelize the native inhabitants became known as Pilgrims.

Rhode Island's early government

Under Williams's leadership, Rhode Island became a haven of political and religious freedom. The colonists set up a representative system of government in which voters elected deputies (legislators), a governor, and his council assistants. There were no religious qualifications to vote or hold public office. To ensure that all voters would have a concern for the common good, it was required that they own property, but this requirement was no hindrance to political participation because virtually everyone could own land.

problems in Massachusetts involving the connection of church and state

Unlike the early Pilgrims, the Massachusetts Puritans persistently held on to the idea of a close connection between church and state, which they thought was needed to maintain the purity of their religion. The Puritans feared that without church control of political affairs, the "city upon a hill" could not maintain its light in the world. The original charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company placed all power in the hands of an assembly known as the General Court, which consisted of the freemen of the colony. Only members of approved Puritan churches could be admitted as freemen. In 1636, it was declared that new churches could be established only be consent of the Puritan authorities. The Puritan churches in Massachusetts were Congregational, but each local body had to conform to specific standards and beliefs in order to remain in good standing. The Puritan ministers wielded great influence in the colony, for only those approved by the ministers could become church members, only church members could become freemen, and only freemen could vote and hold public office. The failure of the Puritans to clearly separate church and state eventually led to serious political and religious problems in Massachusetts. Within the churches, it often led to hypocrisy rather than purity; outside the churches, it led to discrimination and even persecution.

How did Virginia become a royal colony?

Virginia never prospered as a business venture. Although the London Company reorganized under a new charter in 1609 and again in 1612, the stockholders were not able to regain their investment. By the time tobacco began to turn good profits in Virginia, the settlers had served their seven years and were no longer obligated to share profits with the colony. In 1624, the king revoked the charter of the London company, and Virginia became a royal colony, owned and controlled directly by the king and administered by his royal governors.

How was New Sweden founded? How did it become a part of New Netherland?

While the Dutch were busy colonizing New Netherland, the Swedes were settling in the Delaware area. In 1638, a small band of Swedish colonies sailed up the Delaware bay and built a fort near the mouth of the Delaware River and called it Fort Christina, in honor of the queen of Sweden. They called the settlement New Sweden and it was the first successful settlement in Delaware. New Sweden never grew large, however, ad in 1655, the Dutch seized the colony and made it part of New Netherland.

William Bradford

William Bradford was chosen to take John Carver's place as governor of the Pilgrims. A man known for wisdom, patience, and kindness, Bradford was highly respected by the residents of Plymouth and held the office of governor for over 30 years. Bradford wrote History of Plymouth Plantation, the first American history book. Plymouth grew and prospered under Governor Bradford's leadership, particularly because of an important decision he made in the spring of 1623. The Pilgrims' original charter had established a common-store system, similar to the early system that had failed at Jamestown. Even in Plymouth, where most of the people had a deep Christian commitment, the communal system promoted a lack of diligence and efficiency and threatened to destroy the colony in its infancy. To solve the problem, Governor Bradford divided the land among the colonists and made each family responsible for itself, establishing a free enterprise time. By the time of the fall harvest, the wisdom of this decision was evident. After Bradford instituted free enterprise in the colony, Plymouth began to prosper.

William Tyndale (1492-1536)

William Tyndale translated the word of God into the English language and gave England the first printed English Bible in the 16th century. He was martyred for his religious activism.

Virginia Dare

the first English child born in the present-day United States, to whom John White's daughter gave birth at Roanoke