English EmpireNote in 1707 England and Scotland became unified and from then on known as Britain

Reading and discussion prep

A. If there is a book assigned for the week I will expect you to use that to prepare

B. If there is not I will post some a extract on-line (usually primary source)I also expect you to give yourself a background knowledge of the subject

Role of EnglandEngland weak, politically and economically in

comparison to Spain. Henry VII had sponsored John Cabot’s voyages to

Canada 1497, lost interest when NW passage not discovered.

Lack of political will, and military capacity to challenge Spain before later 16thC

But- dry run for colonial expansion in Ireland

Ireland Ireland conquered by Normans, but gradually England lost

control. Tudors show renewed interest. Major military expeditions during Elizabethan period, led by

soldiers & adventurers. Followed up by colonizers, especially those seeking large land holdings, use of Gaelic

Irish as serfs, frequent atrocities and brutality towards Irish

seen as Catholic, barbaric, sub-humans. About 200,000 migrants from GB to Ireland 1600-1670, twice

number who went to America

Ireland as a blueprintFinanced by Joint Stock Companies, same as would

finance American colonies Use of promotional literature to popularize

colonizationAttitudes towards native peoples similarMany of the individuals involved in Irish colonization

later involved in American colonization e.g.

Richard Grenville, Humphrey Gilbert, Walter Raleigh.

English Imperial Ambitions

Motivation: envy of Spanish treasure from America; wealth helped Spain become most powerful nation;

English policy to break the Iberian monopoly on America due to fear that American wealth, after Henry VIII's split with Rome (1534), could be used against them.

English government sanctioned privateering operations against Spanish. Capturing Spanish treasure ships bringing gold & silver from New World.

By 1580 increasingly dangerous to prey on Spanish shipping - suggestion that American base needed.

Idea that American colonies would also ease English reliance on southern Europe for citrus fruits, silks, and vines.

Importance of Propaganda, Richard Haklyut.

1st patent to settle in America granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, half brother to Walter Raleigh, permitted him to settle anywhere between Florida and Northern Canada

Early British AttemptsInitially England was

not successful Martin Frobsier

Searching for gold and a northwest passge

3 failed journeys between 1576-1578

Humphrey Gilbert Attempted to settle in

Newfoundland – failed, Gilbert dies at sea

John Hawkins and Francis Drake Successful in the Caribbean

But as pirates not settlersBut by 1580 England still

had no permanent settlement in Americas

RoanokeThree English voyages to settle

North America in 1580s.The first landed at Roanoke

Island, North Carolina on July 13th, 1584,

short lived military expedition which found that the land was suitable for both cultivation and defence,

returned home to England with 2 local Indians, Manteo & Wanchese.

Roanoke Island

1585-6, 2nd English Voyage under Ralph Lane, discovered Chesapeake

Bay, ideal as naval base. Noted for the oil paintings of John White

and the descriptions of Thomas Hariot. But, young male adventurers, with

ambitions of land and wealth, not ideal colonists.

Indian relations deteriorated, food supply from Indians cut off

Drake arrived summer 1586, seeking re-supply, ends up providing food for colonists, eventually agrees to return them to England

The Lost Colony Third voyage 1587: very different from previous ones most colonists farmers not soldiers, & came in family groups. Clearly intended to be a permanent settlement, self-sustaining

and self-reproducing. John White = Governor, returned to England for more

supplies, leaving daughter and grand-daughter, Virginia Dare, at Roanoke.

Unable to return until 1590 due to Spanish Armada, since all ships diverted to defence of realm.

When finally arrives, found settlement abandoned, colonists never seen again.

Most likely attacked by Indians, survivors absorbed into tribes.

Importance of Roanoke3 voyages saw evolution of colonising

thought Roanoke seen as A base for privateering, Then a place where valuable raw

materials could be shipped to England, Third voyage aimed to settle

permanently.

The lessons of Roanoke were clear: no colony could exist without full support from

mother country for at least the first few years of existence;

clear goals were needed good relations with the Indians were necessary

Put this together and what was needed was OrderOrder would give control and allow for a

structure

Although beginning of cracks in strict hierarchy

Still a rigid conceptHeading to the unknown there was a need

to reinforce it

Two examples of understanding of English order

All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful:The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate, He made them, high or lowly, And ordered their estate.

Into this stepsJohn Smith

Born 1580 in England left home at age 16 after his

father died Began travels France fighting

for Dutch independence from Spain.

Two years later, Mediterranean Sea, working on a merchant ship

1600 joined Austrian forces to fight the Turks

promoted to Captain while fighting in Hungary

This is the moment were Smith fights and defeats3 Turkish champions

Transylvania 1602wounded in battle, captured, and

sold as a slave to a Turk. Turk sent Smith as a gift to his

sweetheart in Istanbul Girl fell in love with him sent him to brother to get training

for Turkish imperial service.

Escaped by murdering the brotherReturned to Transylvania through

Russia and PolandReleased from service Received large rewardTraveled Europe and Northern

Africa Returned to England in the winter

of 1604-05.