Chapter3

SettlingtheNorthernColonies

1619–1700

I.TheProtestantReformationProducesPuritanism

• 1517:MartinLutherbegantheProtestantReformation.

• JohnCalvin’suseofLuther’sideashadaprofoundeffectonthethoughtandcharacterofAmerica.

• Calvinismbecamethedominanttheologicalcredo.

• 1536:CalvinpublishedInstitutesoftheChristianReligion.

I.TheProtestantReformationProducesPuritanism(cont.)

• MajordoctrinesofCalvinismarepredestination—theelectaredestinedforeternalblissandothersforeternaltorment—andconversion—thereceiptofGod’sfreegift.

• 1530s:KingHenryVIIIbrokewiththeCatholicChurch.

• Puritans:EnglishreligiousreformerswhowantedtopurifyEnglishChristianity.

I.TheProtestantReformationProducesPuritanism(cont.)

• ControversyoverchurchmembershipledtotheSeparatistsbreakingfromtheChurchofEngland.

• KingJamesI(r.1603–1625)threatenedtoharassthebothersomeSeparatistsoutofEngland.

II.ThePilgrimsEndTheirPilgrimageatPlymouth

• 1608:FirstSeparatistsfledtoHolland,butovertimetheybecamedistressedbythe“Dutchification”oftheirchildren.

• 1620:SomeSeparatists(knownasPilgrims)sailedontheMayflowertoPlymouthBay.

• TheirMayflowerCompactwasanagreementtoformagovernmentandsubmittothewillofthemajorityundersomeregulations.

• Smallsettlementsurviveddifficultearlyyears.

p43

III.TheBayColonyBibleCommonwealth

• 1629:CharlesIdismissedParliamentandpersecutedPuritans.

• 1630:PuritansfoundedMassachusettsBayColony.

• 1630s:70,000refugeesleftEnglandduringtheGreatMigration(seeMaps3.1;3.2).

Map 3.1a p45

Map 3.1b p45

III.TheBayColonyBibleCommonwealth(cont.)

• LikeWilliamBradfordinPlymouth,JohnWinthrophelpedcolonysurviveandprosper.

• Winthropbelievedhehada“calling”fromGodtoleadthenewreligiousexperiment.

• TheMassachusettsBayColonybecamethebiggestandmostinfluentialcolony.

• ThefirstcolonistsbelievedtheyhadacovenantwithGodtobuildaholysocietyasamodelforallhumankind.

IV.BuildingtheBayColony

• Franchisewasextendedtoall“freemen”—adultmaleswhobelongedtoPuritancongregations.

• Unchurchedmenremainedvoteless.• TheBayColonywasnotademocracy.• Nonbelieversandbelieverspaidtaxesforthegovernment-supportedchurch.

IV.BuildingtheBayColony

(cont.)

• JohnCottonwasaprominentleaderintheMassachusetts“BibleCommonwealth.”

• YetPuritanswereaworldlylot.• The“Protestantethic”involvedseriouscommitmenttoworkandworldlypursuits.

• Theyenjoyedsimplepleasuresbutpassedlawstorepresssomehumaninstincts.

• LifetothePuritanswasseriousbusiness.

V.TroubleintheBibleCommonwealth

• Quakers,whofloutedtheauthorityofthePuritanclergy,werepersecuted.

• AnneHutchinson’santinomianismcarriedtoextremesthedoctrineofpredestination.

• 1638:Shewasbroughttotrial,thenbanished.• SheleftforRhodeIslandandthenmovedtoNewYork,wheresheandherfamilywerekilledbyIndians.

p46

V.TroubleintheBibleCommonwealth(cont.)

• RogerWilliamswasanextremeSeparatist.• HechallengedclergymentomakeaclearbreakwiththeChurchofEngland;

• HechallengedthelegalityoftheBayColony’scharter;

• Hechallengedthecivilauthoritytoregulatereligiousbehavior.

• 1635:Hewastriedbytheauthorities.

VI.TheRhodeIsland“Sewer”

• 1636:Williams,withtheaidofIndians,fledtoRhodeIsland.

• HebuiltaBaptistchurchinProvidence.• Heestablishedcompletefreedomofreligion,evenforJewsandCatholics.

• Hedemandednooaths.• HeshelteredabusedQuakers.• RhodeIslandbecamethemostliberalcolony.

VI.TheRhodeIsland“Sewer”(cont.)

• RhodeIslanders:– Exercisedsimplemanhoodsuffrage.– Achievedremarkablefreedomofopportunity.

• RhodeIsland,plantedbydissentersandexiles,becamestronglyindividualisticandstubbornlyindependent.

VII.NewEnglandSpreadsOut

• ThefertileConnecticutRiverareaattractedasprinklingofDutchandEnglishsettlers.

• 1635:Hartfordwasfounded.• 1639:Connecticut’sFundamentalOrderswasamodernconstitutionthatestablishedaregimedemocraticallycontrolledbythe“substantial”citizens.

• 1638:NewHavenwasfoundedbyPuritans.

Map 3.2 p48

VII.NewEnglandSpreadsOut(cont.)

• 1677:MainewasabsorbedbyMassachusetts.• 1641:NewHampshirewasabsorbedbytheBayColony.

• 1679:KingCharlesIIseparatedNewHampshirefromMassachusettsandmadeitaroyalcolony.

VIII.PuritansVersusIndians• BeforePilgrimsarrivedin1620,anepidemickilledover75%ofthenativepeople.

• WampanoagIndiansbefriendedthesettlers.• 1621:WampanoagchieftainMassasoitsignedatreatywiththePlymouthPilgrims.

• 1621:ThefirstThanksgivingwascelebrated.• Expandingsettlementincreasedtensions.• 1637:HostilitiesbetweenIndiansandwhitesexplodedinthebrutalPequotWar.

VIII.PuritansVersusIndians(cont.)

• Fourdecadesofuneasypeacefollowed.• AfewPuritan“prayingtowns”wereestablishedtoChristianizeremainingIndians.

• 1675:Massasoit’ssonMetacom(KingPhilip)forgedintertribalalliancetoresistsettlers.

• 1675–1676:KingPhilip’sWarslowedEnglishsettlementforatime,butoverallinflictedalastingdefeatonIndiansinNewEngland.

p49

IX.SeedsofColonialUnityandIndependence

• 1643:FourcoloniesformedNewEnglandConfederation.

• Itsprimaryaimwasdefenseagainstfoes.• Eachcolonyhadtwovotes.• TheconfederationwasessentiallyanexclusivePuritanclub.

• ItsmembersweretheBayColony,Plymouth,NewHaven,andscatteredvalleycolonies.

IX.SeedsofColonialUnityand Independence(cont.)

• Itwasamilestonetowardcolonialunity.• DistractedbytheEnglishCivilWar,Englandexercisedbenignneglectinthecolonies.

• Asaresult,colonistsdevelopedhabitsofrelativeindependence.

• 1660:KingCharlesIIwasrestoredandwantedtoimposeamuchmoreactivemanagementofthecolonies.

Table 3.1 p50

IX.SeedsofColonialUnityandIndependence(cont.)

• MassachusettsresistedCharles’sefforts.• 1662:CharlesgaveConnecticutasea-to-seacharterthatlegalizedsquattersettlements.

• 1663:HegrantedtheoutcastsinRhodeIslandanewchartersanctioningreligioustolerance.

• 1684:LondonauthoritiesrevokedtheBayColony’scharter.

X.AndrosPromotestheFirstAmericanRevolution

• 1686:RoyalauthoritycreatedtheDominionofNewEngland(seeMap3.3).

• ItembracedNewEngland,andtwoyearslaterNewYorkandEastandWestJersey.

• NavigationLawsattemptedtolinkEngland’soverseaspossessionsmoretightlytotheEnglishcrown.

• SirEdmundAndrosheadedtheDominion.

X.AndrosPromotestheFirst AmericanRevolution(cont.)

• Hegeneratedhostilitybyhisactionsagainstself-governmentaswellassmuggling.

• 1688–1689:TheGloriousRevolutionoverthrewCatholicJamesII;enthronedProtestantrulersWilliamIIIandMaryII.

• ItalsocausedthecollapseoftheDominion.• Androsfled,butMassachusettswasstillmadeintoaroyalcolonyin1691.

p51

p51

Map 3.3 p51

X.AndrosPromotestheFirst AmericanRevolution(cont.)

• Manycoloniesstruckagainstroyalauthority,includingNewYorkandMaryland.

• Inresponse,thenewmonarchsbeganaperiodof“salutaryneglect”inenforcingthehatedNavigationActs.

• ResiduesremainedofCharlesII’sefforttoasserttightercolonialadministrativecontrol.

• ManyEnglishofficialsweresenttocolonies.

XI.OldNetherlandersatNewNetherland

• 16thcentury:NetherlandsrebelledagainstCatholicSpain.

• 17thcentury:Dutchgoldenage.• Dutchexpandedtheircommercialandnavalpowertobecomealeadingcolonialpower.

• DutchEastIndiaCompanybecamepowerful.• 1609:HenryHudsonventuredintoDelawareBay,NewYorkBay,andtheHudsonRiver.

XI.OldNetherlandersatNewNetherland(cont.)

• 1623–1624:NewNetherlandwasfoundedintheHudsonRiverareabytheDutchWestIndiaCompany(seeMap3.4).

• TheypurchasedManhattanIslandfromtheIndians.

• NewAmsterdam—laterNewYorkCity—wasacompanytown.

• ItwasrunbyandfortheDutchcompany.

Map 3.4 p52

XI.OldNetherlandersatNewNetherland(cont.)

• Theinvestorshadnoenthusiasmfordemocraticpractices.

• Alocalbodywithlimitedlawmakingpowerwaseventuallyestablished.

• Thecolonydevelopedastrongaristocracyaspatroonships(feudalestates)werebuilt.

• NewAmsterdamattractedacosmopolitanpopulation.

p53

XII.FrictionwithEnglishandSwedishNeighbors

• TheDutchcompany-colonywasbesetbyproblems,especiallywiththeIndians.

• SettlersonManhattanIslanderectedawall,fromwhichWallStreetderiveditsname.

• PeoplefromConnecticutalsoejectedtheHollanders.

XII.FrictionwithEnglishandSwedishNeighbors(cont.)

• 1638–1655:SwedestrespassedonDutchclaimsbyplanningNewSwedenontheDelawareRiver(seeMap3.4).

• 1655:ResentingtheSwedes,theDutchdispatchedasmallmilitaryexpedition.

• PeterStuyvesantsuccessfullyabsorbedNewSwedenintoNewNetherland.

XIII.DutchResiduesinNewYork

• 1664:EnglandseizedNewNetherlandfromtheDutch.

• CharlesIIhadgrantedhisbrother,theDukeofYork,theformerNewAmsterdamarea.

• PeterStuyvesantwasforcedtosurrender.• NewAmsterdamwasrenamedNewYork.• EnglandgainedasplendidharborandthestatelyHudsonRiver.

XIII.DutchResiduesinNewYork(cont.)

• TheEnglishbannernowwavedoverastretchofterritoryfromMainetotheCarolinas.

• NewYorkretainedanautocraticspirit.• TheLivingstonandDeLanceyfamilieswieldeddisproportionatepower.

• ThislordlyatmospherediscouragedmanyEuropeanimmigrantsfromcoming.

XIII.DutchResiduesinNewYork(cont.)

• Dutchinfluence:– Placenames– Gambrel-roofedarchitecture– Socialcustomsandfolkways(e.g.,Eastereggs,SantaClaus)

p54

XIV.Penn’sHolyExperimentinPennsylvania

• Quakers,EnglishdissentersknownastheReligiousSocietyofFriends:– refusedtopaytaxesfortheestablishedChurchofEngland.

– builtsimplemeetinghouses.– congregatedwithoutapaidclergy.– “spokeup”inmeetingswhenmoved.– kepttheirbroad-brimmedhatsoninthepresenceof“betters.”

XIV.Penn’sHolyExperimentin Pennsylvania(cont.)

• Quakers(cont.):– Addressedeachotherwithsimple“thee”sand“thou”s.

– Tooknooaths.

• Theywerepeopleofdeepconviction:– Abhorredstrifeandwarfare– Refusedmilitaryservice– Advocatedpassiveresistance

XIV.Penn’sHolyExperimentin Pennsylvania(cont.)

• Quakersweresimple,devoted,democraticpeople,contendingforreligiousandcivicfreedom.

• 1660:WilliamPennwasattractedtotheQuakerfaithandsufferedmuchpersecution.

• Penn’sthoughtsturnedtotheNewWorld.• Hewantedtoexperimentwithliberalideasingovernmentandtomakemoney.

XIV.Penn’sHolyExperimentinPennsylvania(cont.)

• 1681:Hesecuredlandfromtheking.• ThekingcalledthelandPennsylvania(“Penn’sWoodland”).

• Pennsylvaniawasthebest-advertisedcolony.• Hisliberallandpolicyalsoattractedmanyimmigrants.

p55

p55

XV.QuakerPennsylvaniaandItsNeighbors

• 1681:Pennlaunchedhiscolony:– Dutch,Swedish,English,andWelsh“squatters”werealreadythere.

– Philadelphiawascarefullyplanned.– HeboughtlandfromtheIndiansandChiefTammany.

– HetreatedtheIndiansfairly.• Pennsylvaniaseemed,forabrieftime,thelandofamicableIndian-whiterelations.

p56

XV.QuakerPennsylvaniaandItsNeighbors(cont.)

• Quakertoleranceofnon-QuakerimmigrantseventuallyunderminedPenn’sIndianpolicy.

• Penn’sproprietaryregimewasunusuallyliberalandthusattractedmanyimmigrants:– Representativeassemblyelectedbylandowners– Notax-supportedstatechurch– Freedomofworship– Restricteduseofdeathpenalty

XV.QuakerPennsylvaniaandItsNeighbors(cont.)

• “Bluelaws”prohibited“ungodlyrevelers,”stageplays,playingcards,dice,games,andexcessivehilarity.

• TheQuakerswereshrewdbusinesspeople.• By1700thecolonysurpassedallothercoloniesbutVirginiaandMassachusettsinpopulationandwealth.

• Pennspentonlyfouryearsinthecolony.

XV.QuakerPennsylvaniaandItsNeighbors(cont.)

• Hisenduringmonumentwasanobleexperienceandanewcommonwealth.

• 1664:NewJerseywasstartedbytwonobleswhoreceivedlandfromtheDukeofYork.

• 1674:TheQuakersboughtWestNewJersey.• LaterEastNewJerseywasacquired.• 1703Delawarewasgrantedanassembly.

XV.QuakerPennsylvaniaandItsNeighbors(cont.)

• Notedfeaturesofthecolony:– Noprovisionforamilitarydefense– Norestrictionsonimmigration– Strongdislikeofslavery– Someprogresstowardsocialreform– Containedmanydifferentethnicgroups– Affordedeconomicopportunity,civilliberty,andreligiousfreedom

XVI.TheMiddleWayintheMiddleColonies

• CommonfeaturesofNewYork,NewJersey,Delaware,andPennsylvania:– Theyhadextensivefertilesoil.– Theybecamethe“breadcolonies”becauseofgrainexports.

– RiversliketheSusquehanna,theDelaware,andtheHudsontappedtheinteriorfurtrade.

– IndustrystimulatedcommerceandthegrowthofseaportslikeNewYorkandPhiladelphia.

XVI.TheMiddleWayintheMiddleColonies(cont.)

• ThemiddlecoloniesweremidwaybetweenNewEnglandandthesouthernplantations:– Landholdingwasintermediateinsize.– LocalgovernmentwasbetweenpersonalizedtownmeetingsofNewEnglandanddiffusedcountygovernmentoftheSouth.

– TheyhadfewerindustriesthanNewEngland,butmorethantheSouth.

XVI.TheMiddleWayintheMiddleColonies(cont.)

• Distinctionsoftheirown:– Amoreethnicallymixedpopulation– Anunusualdegreeofreligioustolerationanddemocraticcontrol

– Desirablelandthatwaseasiertoacquire– Considerableeconomicandsocialdemocracy

• AllAmericancoloniesflourishedunderBritain’scontinuinghands-offpolicies.

p58

p61