Tuesday 10

Puritans and Native Americans

Moving South Again

Chesapeake Compared to New England the

Chesapeake was a dispersed community Based on a hierarchical system

› Rich land owners › Indented servants › Slaves.

Region been developed on the back of Tobacco

Vast profits over a period of 11 years from 1618

1629 the bottom dropped out of the market

Drop in profits led to a situation whereby

Indentured servants have no or little money or

opportunities to set themselves up as plantation owners

Plantation owners able to survive through › Expanding length of indenture › Increasing punishments for infractions of

contract Renting land, Selling other crops From money earned from positions in

the local government.

Wealthy landowners also closed up

people forced to either work as poorly paid and abused servants or

to flee from the local area into the ever expanding backcountry

Into this problematic situation stepped Nathanial Bacon

Bacon 29 year old Cambridge

graduate wealthy English Family related by marriage to the

governor of Virginia Sir William Berkley.

Bacon was given a land grant and also a seat on the council.

Many people outside the wealthy looking for scapegoats for their situation

July 1675 a group was found. Group of Doeg Indians raided

plantation on the outskirts of colony

Plantation of Thomas Mathews Not a random attack by “wild

Indians” Attempt to get paid for goods

that Mathews had obtained from the tribe.

Several Indians killed herdsman of Mathews

plantation killed Local colonists went after

Doeg Indians Killed ten or more also killed a number of

Susquehannocks at peace with and regularly

traded with the English. Governor Berkeley

stepped in

Attempted to restore order Ordered investigation set up meeting between

English and Susquehannocks

During meeting local militia killed the chiefs sent to negotiate.

Susquehannocks went on a series of retaliatory attacks Bacon’s overseer was killed.

Berkeley planned a series of forts to protect the outlying communities. paid for out of taxes

Outlying planters Financially strapped by low

Tobacco prices preferred the cheaper option

Outright war to kill all Indians and seize their lands.

Elected Bacon as their leader

April 1676 Led 300 men on an

all out attack on the local Indian population

Found only friendly Indians but killed them anyway

Bacon’s popularity high Legislature passed legislation

that › allowed for any Indians to be termed enemies if they left their village without permission from the English

› this would then allow their lands and property to be taken.

How would you react if 1000 angry men came charging towards your village?

Rich landowners planned to expand wealth

Governor realized policy not working ordered the end of hostilities

Bacon returned at the head of his army and rode into Jamestown. Chased the governor away Burnt the capital building offered freedom to any of Berkeley’s

supporters, servants or slaves who joined him

Bacon and rebellion was at the height of power

Bacon died ›possibly of dysentery

Rebellion was over. Berkeley regained control ›punished Bacon’s supporters severely

Aftermath English government sent to troops to

quell uprising › Virginia at peace long before they arrived.

Authorities recalled Berkeley New governor implemented some

reforms, but also hit rebels hard › executing leaders › imprisoning others

sending message that rebellion was never justified, no matter what the provocation.

long term effect Indian frontier again pushed back.

Possible Explanations

1. Instability on frontier, mixing of freed servants, blacks, Indians; taxes high, discontent over spending priorities, so rebellion a symbol of class conflict

2. lower death rates and immigration of royalists meant social mobility falling, est of First Families of Va – even Bacon excluded

3. Bacon as popular democratic hero, struggling vs tyranny – failure leads to ‘end of American Independence’

King Philip’s War New England

Indian – White relations at low ebb by 1670s.

Treaties with Indians not kept Metacom – named ‘King Philip’ by

whites, chief of Wampanoags, Specific grievances

› loss of tribal lands › effect of alcohol and guns on people › Puritan treatment of ‘praying Indians’

confined to praying villages, taken away from homes and families

War probably planned by Metacom betrayed by Christian Indian, John

Sassamon Sassamon murdered

› seen as evidence his warnings were correct

3 Wampanoag Indians tried and executed for his murder › real suspicion directed at King Philip

Puritans mount pre-emptive strike vs Wampanoag in late 1675

Wampanoags have better of initial skirmishes

Nipmuc, Narragansett, Pocasset and Pocomtuck joining in – general Indian war

War drags on in to 1676 Indians unable to fight long war

› lack supplies and planning English re-group, re-supply, and

counter-attack capture and kill King Philip

Consequences 3000 Indians killed (50% of

popn)› loss of tribal leaders › exile of many Indians to west › captives sold into slavery › remaining tribes confined to praying villages

End Indian threat in New England

cost £100,000 › came close to bankrupting many colonies

2500 white settlers killed, (10% of white men of fighting age)

damaged 52 of 90 settlements in New England › totally destroyed 12

Psychological pain ‘so dreadful a judgment’ warning from God yet victory shows God still

on white side White settlement restricted, doesn’t reach 1675 levels again until 1710

Conclusions 1670s threatened but ultimately

confirmed English control over the Native Americans› 1680 sees Pueblo revolt for

Spanish Also Va and NE still developing and

finding their feet 1670s show tensions between

new and old settlers

Thursday

Restoration Colonies

1) The Carolinas 1663 territory to the south of

Virginia granted to eight politically powerful individuals › 6 also directors of the Royal African

Company – would be important in the growth of the region

Colony named Carolina in honor of Charles II

Popular with planters from Barbados, where land was limited.

Established new capital at Charles Town 1670,

planters grew rice and indigo and began importing large numbers of African slaves.

2) New York 1664 became New York from New

Amsterdam Many Dutch merchants remained in

New York, & Dutch influence over language and culture lingered

3) Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Both proprietary colonies like Carolina and New York, no charter, proprietor effectively a self ruling prince.

William Penn granted colony to repay a debt owed by Charles II to Penn's father.

Penn = Quaker, a religious dissident, potential troublemaker.

New colony lets Charles II get rid of large numbers of Quakers.

1681 Philadelphia ‘brotherly love’ founded

Fastest growing in America Policy of total religious

toleration, Attracted religious migrants

from Europe. Good relations with local

Indians. ‘Walking purchase’ Penn attempted a Holy

Experiment not unlike Puritans but more tolerant, emphasis on personal morality

Did not prevent political problems between Penn and the settlers,

Charter of Privileges in 1701 giving the assembly rights over legislation.

King Philip’s War New England

Indian – White relations at low ebb by 1670s.

Treaties with Indians not kept Metacom – named ‘King Philip’ by

whites, chief of Wampanoags, Specific grievances

› loss of tribal lands › effect of alcohol and guns on people › Puritan treatment of ‘praying Indians’

confined to praying villages, taken away from homes and families

War probably planned by Metacom betrayed by Christian Indian, John

Sassamon Sassamon murdered

› seen as evidence his warnings were correct

3 Wampanoag Indians tried and executed for his murder › real suspicion directed at King Philip

Puritans mount pre-emptive strike vs Wampanoag in late 1675

Wampanoags have better of initial skirmishes

Nipmuc, Narragansett, Pocasset and Pocomtuck joining in – general Indian war

War drags on in to 1676 Indians unable to fight long war

› lack supplies and planning English re-group, re-supply, and

counter-attack capture and kill King Philip

Consequences 3000 Indians killed (50% of

popn)› loss of tribal leaders › exile of many Indians to west › captives sold into slavery › remaining tribes confined to praying villages

End Indian threat in New England

cost £100,000 ›came close to bankrupting many colonies

2500 white settlers killed, (10% of white men of fighting age)

damaged 52 of 90 settlements in New England › totally destroyed 12

Psychological pain ‘so dreadful a judgment’ warning from God yet victory shows God still

on white side White settlement restricted, doesn’t reach 1675 levels again until 1710

Conclusions 1670s threatened but ultimately

confirmed English control over the Native Americans› 1680 sees Pueblo revolt for

Spanish Also Va and NE still developing and

finding their feet 1670s show tensions between

new and old settlers

Crisis in England and the Redefinition of Empire

Restoration of crown under Charles II in 1660

Royal government wants to tighten control of the colonies particularly the

north 1st step the passing

of Navigation Acts of 1660

1660 & 1663 Navigation Acts

Restricted all trade with the empire to ships built in England or its colonies

High value commodities, that produced tax revenue, were ‘enumerated’› That is they had to be shipped to England

alone Non-English European goods had to be

imported through England Aimed at introducing control and

mercantilism› i.e. colonies exist to enrich homeland

Political reorganization 1684 English

Government revokes Massachusetts bay charter

Annulled the charters of Connecticut and Rhode Island

In 1686, Charles II with no son dies, his brother James II becomes King

Announces the Dominion of New England 1686

Dominion of New England Included all of New

England’s former colonies

New York and New Jersey added

Ruled over by on English Royal Governor

No elected body for Boston

Planned to be one of two super colonies

Governor Sir Edmund Andros 1686 Andros arrives in

Boston Brings two companies of

Redcoats Leads attacks on Puritans Congregational meeting

houses used for Church of England services

Reintroduced Christmas and maypoles

Claimed the power to revoke land grants and power to assess rent on new distribution

Andros increases taxes effectively taxation without

representation enforces Navigation Acts

appoints cronies to high office rules with absolutist air ‘either you

are subjects or you are rebels’ Widespread fear of French in Canada,

stirring up Indians, Suspicion of James’s pro-French

policies Louis XIV not seen as good role

model.

The Glorious Revolution 1688 King James has

Catholic son Whigs and Tories

invite William of Orange (stadholder in Netherlands)

James flees to France William & Mary take

English throne English throne again

becomes Protestant

In New England Indians start to harass settlements in

Northern New England Andros sends troops north, leaving

Boston defenceless, troops mutiny at Saco River, April 1689.

Popular uprising, led by elite merchants and puritans, who feared an uprising led by mob

Andros unable to secure any support, flees to city fort

The rebellion and its aftermath

Downfall of Andros in 1688/9 encourages Dutch resurgence in New York

Led by Jacob Leisler Dutch merchant,

overlooked for official position by Andros

Leisler rules New York 1689-91 Professes loyalty to William but refuses to hand over control

to English officials in 1691. Crushed by English forces Leisler hanged for treason. Harsh reprisals vs Dutch Message - rebellion not tolerated. Decline of Dutch culture

accelerated

The aftermath for New England Power vacuum – Council of Safety

established to manage affairs until return of charters and guidance from William

Charters returned 1691, but Massachusetts Bay became Royal Colony

New governor Sir Wm Phipps = merchant, not puritan.

Religious toleration established, franchise changed to property qualification rather than religious one

Confirmed end of puritan experiment

Does not mean the end of Puritans just end of their domination over the region

Other issues also threaten the Puritans Deaths affect concept

› John Winthrop 1649› John Davenport 1670› Ann Bradstreet 1672› Roger Williams 1683

A new generation is taking charge Most members of the ministry now

educated at Harvard not Cambridge

And now on to one result (?) of all this

Now we are going to look at the events that occurred between June – September 1692 in a New England town

During this period 19 men and women were carted to Gallows Hill for hanging

Another man pressed to death under heavy stones

Dozens languished in jail for months without trials.

Then, almost as soon as it had begun, the hysteria that swept through Puritan Massachusetts ended.

Why did this travesty of justice occur? Why did it occur in where it did? Nothing about this tragedy was

inevitable. Only an unfortunate combination of

› an ongoing frontier war› economic conditions › congregational strife › teenage boredom› personal jealousies

can account for the accusations, trials, and executions that occurred in the spring and summer of 1692 in Salem