1-3: Commerce

and ColoniesThe distance of the colonies from

Europe caused them to develop means of self-government.

Anticipatory Set

What chain of events led to the founding of the early colonies?

California StandardsSocial Studies Standard 7.11.3: Examine the origins of modern capitalism…and the influence of explorers and map makers.

Social Studies Standard 8.2.1: Discuss the significance of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact.

Inputcapitalism: an economic system in

which people put money, or capital, into a business in order to make a profit.

interest: percentage added to the original amount.

mercantilism: an economic policy which held that a nation’s wealth was measured by its supply of gold and silver.

Inputnorthwest passage: a water

route/shortcut through or around North America.

charter: an official document that gives certain rights to an individual or group.

representative government: a political system in which voters elect others to make laws.

religious freedom: the right of all individuals to follow their own religious beliefs.

InputEconomic Changes in Europe

Rise of Capitalism: As trade grew, money became increasingly important. Europeans developed modern capitalism, which is now

the economic system of most of the world. Banking became important as investors began to borrow

money from wealthy bankers.

Spanish Doubloons

InputEconomic Changes in

Europe Mercantilism:

European monarchs supported mercantilism as their nations began to benefit from a rise in wealth and trade.

The best way to increase a nation’s wealth was to increase exports and decrease imports.

Colonies were vital to mercantilism as they were a cheap source of raw materials and provided a place to sell goods.

InputColonizing North America

European Powers Seek Colonies in the Americas: As Spain and Portugal grew rich on

American gold and silver, France, England, and the Netherlands desired colonies in the Americas.

European powers sought a water passage through or around North America to Asia, called the northwest passage.

France set up its first American colony in 1605 at Nova Scotia, Canada.

By 1700, New France stretched from Quebec to Louisiana.

InputColonizing North America

European Powers Seek Colonies in the Americas: The Dutch established a colony on

Manhattan Island called New Netherland in 1626. This later became New York City.

The English settled a colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina in 1585, but it vanished after a few years.

InputThe Jamestown Colony

Early Struggles & Self-Government King James I granted the Virginia Company a charter to

establish a colony in 1606. The Jamestown Colony struggled to survive as settlers

sought gold instead of growing crops. John Smith took command and required colonists to grow

crops. The colony began making a profit by growing and exporting

tobacco. Jamestown had the first representative government in the

colonies. In 1619, the House of Burgesses was established. The

representatives were voted on by the male settlers.

InputThe Plymouth Colony

The Mayflower Compact The Pilgrims, a group of Protestants who wanted to

separate from the Church of England, sailed for Virginia in 1620. They were known as “separatists.”

The ship went off course and the landed in Massachusetts in November, 1620.

The 41 male passengers established a set of rules for the colony called the Mayflower Compact. This was a document that provided for the

government of Plymouth Colony.

Input The Plymouth Colony Struggle and Survival

The Pilgrims struggled to survive their first winter and about half of them died. The colony survived with the help of Native Americans who

introduced the settlers to maize (corn). Religious Freedom

The right of all individuals to follow their own religious beliefs.

The Pilgrims were the first of many English settlers who came to North America in order to worship as they pleased; religious freedom.

Over the next 150 years, people gradually came to believe government should not interfere with people’s religious or moral beliefs.

How were members of the House of Burgesses chosen?Settlers voted for

the representatives

Why was the Mayflower compact important?Strengthened the

English tradition of representative government in the colonies.

Check forUnderstanding

HOMEWORK EXTENSION

Write a detailed SUMMARY of the section and complete the UNANSWERED QUESTIONS section of your notes.

Choose two of the remaining Depth & Complexity ICONS in your notes and explain how they relate to this section.