Classifying the Colonies
AJ Hauer 2nd Period
Jamestown Colony
Disease & Hunger: The "Starving Time" winter in 1609 killed all but 60 of the214 Jamestown settlers.
Pocahontas: Wife of tobacco entrepreneur John Rolfe and helped ceased relations between the English settlers and the Powhatan Indians that had battled for many years after English arrival.
Tobacco: Vital role on putting VA on firm economic footing, and promoted the use of the new plantation system.
The House of Burgesses: Began to assume the role of the House of Commons in England by controlling finances, militia, etc.
Gold: Many settlers starved because they wasted time looking for gold instead of hunting and fishing which lead to many deaths from starvation.
John Smith: His famous quote “one that shall not work, shall not eat” told people to focus on survival essentials instead of finding gold.
John Rolfe: Introduces tobacco to the colony, ultimately setting the basis for there economy.
Indenture Contract: 5-7 years and promised freedom dues and forbidden to marry, only 10 percent lived out there contract.
Head right System: Each Virginian got 50 acres for each person whose passage they paid, a good incentive to have more people come to the colonies.
Founded in 1607: The first American colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The families arrived in Massachusetts in 1630. The majority of settlers were Puritans
Natural Bay: This prime location made trading much easier and the bay also protected them from rival countries coming from sea
John Winthrop: He was the first governor of Massachusetts and helped the colony prosper and become more successful.
Anne Hutchinson: She questioned predestination and started a women’s group that walked out of a sermon resulting in her banishment and execution.
Representative Assembly: The first to proclaim that the church was separated from the state.
Puritan Families: The majority of the population was Puritans that had come over from England.
Roger Williams: He left Mass. Bay colony and eventually founded what today is Rhode Island, a refuge for religious minorities.
School: They laid the foundation requiring kids to get a form of education.
Land for Crops: The land they had was incredibly fertile and helped the people grow crops that they could eat to support their families.
Economy: There economy was based on lumber, ship building, and fishing unlike the south.
Pennsylvania Colony
Founded in 1681 by William Penn
Quakers and Indians: The Quakers treated the Indians incredibly well, thus having a very good relationship
Freedom of Worship: Although much of the population was made up of Quakers, Pennsylvania had freedom of religion.
Peaceful Pennsylvania: No slavery, no restrictions on immigration, and no previsions for a military.
Population Growth: By 1700, was the third most populated colony after Mass, and Virginia, that were much older than Pennsylvania.
Bread Colony: Being very fertile, Pennsylvania exported large amounts of grain.
Benjamin Franklin: Moved to Philadelphia at a very young age and is one of the founding fathers of this nation.
Diversity: As Pennsylvania grew its population included English, Welsh, Irish, Germans, Sweeds, Finns, Dutch, and African American slaves.
Manufacturing: Sawmills and gristmills were some of the first manufacturing in Pennsylvania.
Representative Assembly: Penn’s liberal idea of government, illuminating the problem of tax supported state church.
Maryland
Founded in 1632 by Lord Baltimore
Tobacco: The main crop for the colony and where they made most of their profit.
Toleration Act of 1649: Guaranteed toleration to all Christians, so incredibly supported by Catholics.
George Calvert: His plan was to govern as an absentee proprietor in a feudal relationship.
Proprietorship: The proprietor (Lord Calvert) had executive authority over the colony.
Roman Catholics: Maryland was known as a haven for Catholics that were still being persecuted by Protestants in England.
House of Assembly: consisted of representatives chosen by the people, of others appointed by the proprietor, and, of the governor and secretary, who sat together.
Leonard Calvert: In 1633, Lord Baltimore appointed his governor of the province, ensuring that his family stays in power.
Major Industries: Major Industries: Manufacturing (shipbuilding, iron works), Agriculture (corn, wheat, rice, indigo). The Maryland Legislature passed an “Act for the Encouragement of an Iron Manufacture within this Province” in 1719.
Natural Resources: Fish, timber and good agricultural land. Exporting agricultural products to other colonies was a main part of the economy.
Georgia
The last colony of the 13, founded in 1733.
James Oglethorpe: Founder who was a member of Parliament and a prison reformer.
Slavery: The colonists here were determined to keep slavery out, but this failed in 1750.
Reason for Finding: serve as a buffer between the French Louisiana and Spanish Florida. It received money from England for defenses.
Debtors: Georgia became a haven for debtors that were thrown in prison.
Freedom of Religion: James Oglethorpe gave the colonists freedom of religion to all the religions except for Catholicism.
John Wesley: A missionary that preached and converted the colonists, debtors, and Native Americans in Savannah.
Ban on alcohol and slavery: Once Oglethorpe left back to England, his was quickly removed.
Population Increase: Georgia’s population rapidly increased to about 50,000 by the time of the revolution.
King George II: Georgia was named after King George II, who granted the charter for 21 years allowing the colony to be established.