Period 2: 1607-1754
Thomas Smithdeal (1-4-16)
Bacon's Rebellion
In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion of farmers against large corrupt planters in the Chesapeake area. The rebellion consisted of raids and massacres of Indians. The outcome of this rebellion established long lasting conflicts in Virginia including major class differences and colonial resistance to corrupt government.
Bacon's Rebellion - 5 Minute History lesson - Quick Summary
King Philip's War
American Indians were tired of English colonists taking over their land. The leader of the Wampanoag tribe, known to the settlers as King Philip, joined many Indians tribes together and started a bloody war against the English. Thousands on each side were killed, but the English prevailed and King Philip was killed in battle. This ended most Indian resistance to the colonists.
William Penn
William Penn was a young convert to the Quaker faith. His father was an admiral for the king of England and was owed a large debt from the royal family. When William's father passed, the debt was paid to William in 1681 in the form of a large tract of land in the New World. Penn named it Pennsylvania.
"The Holy Experiment"
William Penn's "Holy Experiment" was providing religious refuge for Quakers and all religions, carrying out liberal ideas in government, and generating a profit. He attracted new settlers to his land by publishing notices around Europe and hiring agents.
Steven Conn on William Penn's Utopian Experiment
Mercantilism
Mercantilism, in 17th century England, was used to build up a country's military and political strength. Countries did this by gaining a favorable balance of trade and accumulating as much wealth as possible. The primary goal was to enrich the mother country. English colonies began using mercantilism in the New World only when the English Civil War was over.
Themes adressed
POL-1.0: This theme is expressed because colonies had many different ways of obtaining their political power and party systems. For example, Pennsylvania was inherited by William Penn while other countries had to be brought up by stockpiling wealth.
WOR-1.0: This theme is expressed because many conflicts between different ethnic groups took place in this time over land, political power, and class structure. For example, Bacon's rebellion was fought because some colonists were not getting fair treatment while others were.