# Study Notes: Early American History and European Colonization --- ## Key Concepts and Events ### Pre-Colonial North America - **Native Societies**: Before European colonization, Native Americans had developed complex societies, governance systems, and trade networks. They thrived for thousands of years across the continent. - **Leif Erikson and Norse Exploration**: Around 1000 CE, Leif Erikson and the Norse established a short-lived settlement in Labrador called **L’Anse aux Meadows**. This was abandoned after 20 years and forgotten for centuries. --- ### European Exploration and Colonization #### Christopher Columbus (1492) - **Discovery of the Americas**: Columbus, sailing for Spain, landed in the West Indies while searching for a route to India. This marked the beginning of European exploration in the "New World." - **Impact**: His voyages opened the Americas to European powers, leading to colonization, trade, and the exploitation of resources. #### Naming of America - **Amerigo Vespucci**: A Florentine explorer who mapped parts of the New World. The continent was named "America" in his honor. #### Early Settlements - **Spanish Colonization**: - **St. Augustine (1565)**: The first permanent European settlement in North America, established by Spain in Florida. - Spanish explorers like **Juan Ponce de León** and **Hernando de Soto** mapped the Southeast. - **English Colonization**: - **Roanoke (1585)**: Known as the "Lost Colony," it was abandoned under mysterious circumstances. - **Jamestown (1607)**: The first successful English settlement, established in Virginia. It survived due to Captain John Smith's leadership and trade with the Powhatan Confederacy. - **Plymouth (1620)**: Founded by the Pilgrims seeking religious freedom. The **Mayflower Compact** established self-governance. - **French Colonization**: - Settlements like **Quebec** and **New Orleans** focused on fur trade and controlling waterways like the St. Lawrence and Mississippi Rivers. - **Dutch Colonization**: - **New Amsterdam (1624)**: Established on Manhattan Island, later captured by the English and renamed **New York**. In 1664, English frigates demanded the surrender of New Amsterdam. The Dutch complied without bloodshed, and the city was renamed New York. --- ### Native American and European Interactions - **First Contact**: Early interactions ranged from trade and cooperation to violent conflict. Europeans introduced diseases like smallpox, which devastated Native populations. - **King Philip’s War (1675)**: A violent conflict between New England colonists and the Wampanoag Confederacy, led by Metacomet (King Philip). It ended in the near destruction of the Wampanoag people. It’s often assumed that Native Americans were passive victims of colonization. In reality, they actively resisted and adapted to European encroachment. --- ### Colonial Wars and Rivalries #### French and Indian Wars - A series of conflicts between European powers (mainly Britain and France) over control of North America. - **Key Wars**: - **King William’s War (1689–1697)**: First major conflict between English and French colonists. - **Queen Anne’s War (1702–1713)**: Part of the War of Spanish Succession, it saw fighting in the South and New England. - **French and Indian War (1754–1763)**: The North American theater of the global **Seven Years’ War**. Britain emerged victorious, gaining control of Canada and lands east of the Mississippi. #### Treaty of Paris (1763) - Ended the French and Indian War. - Britain gained vast territories, but tensions with Native Americans and colonists grew. The **Proclamation of 1763** forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, creating resentment among settlers eager for land. --- ### Colonial Economy and Society #### The Triangle Trade - A transatlantic trade system involving: 1. **Slaves** from Africa to the Americas. 2. **Raw materials** (sugar, tobacco, cotton) from the Americas to Europe. 3. **Manufactured goods** from Europe to Africa. - **Slavery**: By the mid-18th century, millions of Africans had been forcibly brought to the Americas to work on plantations. Remember that the economic success of the colonies was deeply tied to the exploitation of enslaved labor. #### The Great Awakening (1730s–1740s) - A religious revival that swept through Europe and the American colonies. - **Key Figures**: George Whitefield, an itinerant preacher, drew massive crowds. - **Impact**: Strengthened Protestant faith and laid the groundwork for revolutionary ideas about individual rights and self-governance. In 1740, Whitefield preached to a crowd of 30,000 in Boston—nearly double the city’s population at the time. --- ### Growing Tensions with Britain #### Post-War Strains - The **Seven Years’ War** left Britain in debt. To recover, Parliament imposed taxes on the colonies, sparking outrage. - **Key Acts**: - **Sugar Act (1764)**: Regulated trade to favor British goods. - **Stamp Act (1765)**: Taxed printed materials, leading to widespread protests. - **Townshend Acts (1767)**: Imposed duties on imports like tea and paper. Many assume the colonists revolted solely because of high taxes. In reality, the issue was **taxation without representation** in Parliament. #### Colonial Resistance - **Sons of Liberty**: A secret organization that led protests and boycotts. - **Stamp Act Congress (1765)**: Nine colonies united to declare that taxation without representation violated their rights. - **Repeal and Declaratory Act (1766)**: Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but asserted its authority to legislate for the colonies. Boycotts were a powerful tool for colonists, significantly reducing British trade revenue. --- ## Key Takeaways 1. **Colonial Foundations**: European powers established settlements for economic, religious, and strategic reasons, often at the expense of Native populations. 2. **Conflict and Cooperation**: Relations between colonists, Native Americans, and European powers were complex, involving trade, alliances, and wars. 3. **Economic Systems**: The colonies thrived on agriculture, trade, and slavery, becoming vital to the British Empire. 4. **Path to Revolution**: British attempts to control the colonies economically and politically sowed the seeds of rebellion. --- ## Practice Questions 1. **Short Answer**: What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact? 2. **Multiple Choice**: Which war marked the beginning of large-scale European conflict in North America? - A) King Philip’s War - B) King William’s War - C) French and Indian War - D) Queen Anne’s War 3. **True/False**: The Proclamation of 1763 allowed colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. Use these questions to test your understanding and identify areas for review!