In Country

A Rough Beginning

Powhatan’s decision…..fatal mistake?

• Leader of a small, loosely affiliated group of tribes

• Saw opportunity with colonists• Relations tense, especially during starving

times• Culture clashes

Pocahontas

• 1607 John Smith captured• First encounter with Pocahontas• Beginning of a legend– Daughter of Powhatan– Gifted with language from early age– Prisoner of colonial family, initially rejects English

traditions– Used as a pawn to gain supplies

Cont…

– John Rolfe sees opportunity, marries Pocahontas– Short term peace established– Controversy about her decisions…..did she

abandon her people?– Died in England

3 D’s, With a twist

• Disease, disorganization, and now disposability – Once Virginians able to grow own crops, less

interest in PR– Now a barrier to coveted land

The Bewitching Weed

• Tobacco: first cash crop• Required as much land as possible to be

cleared– Scramble to control as much to grow more

• Joint stock companies such as Virginia Company of London took advantage

Difficult Beginning

• access of land, in-fighting, high rates of mortality, not enough to work the land

• form of martial law implemented • Representative assembly… 1619: House of

Burgesses • Soon Tobacco boom having a positive

impact…..on some

Mercantilism

– How would the crown establish the most power and money?

– Colonists provide raw materials….England produces goods….colonies buy goods….all monies made go to the crown

– James I saw this as a good and prosperous plan

Royal Crown in Disarray

• Attempt at absolute power by both James I and his son Charles I

• This backfires when in need of military support against the Scots

• Short-time England was under military rule with Oliver Cromwell

• Charles II came to power to try and reign it all back in

• Enacted laws and regulations with substantial impact on the colonies

Cont….

• Prior to Charles II the colonies enjoyed a great deal of freedom in trade and the ability to grow its economy

• Navigation Acts: 1660• In the end, bad decision on the part of

England

Let The Rebellions Begin

• The Players:– William Berkeley: • Governor of Virginia• Loyal to the King• Respected by fellow Virginians with clout

– Nathaniel Bacon• Young, intelligent, wealthy• Sent to Virginia to “grow up”• Plans to make it big with Indian Trading

Cont….

• Problem: How to respond to Native disturbances?

• Berkeley: Hold steady, build forts for protection

• Bacon: Be aggressive, meet them on their territory– Led several unauthorized attacks– Jamestown residents divided– Chaos begins

Cont….

• Struggle shifts from external to internal• The battle nearly brings Jamestown to ruins in

1676• Do we see the quest for independence

beginning, or personal rivalry and greed?

Civilized Rebellion

• Maryland sees internal struggle as well• Money, and advantages in the hands of a few:

the Calvert family• Religion enters in the conflict now• John Coode led a more diplomatic form of

rebellion• Outcome: Calvert power reduced, destruction

of city absent

Labor Force Wanted

• Benefits and logic behind the slave trade (according to the colonists)– Mortality rates slowing down – indentured servants paying off their debts and

able to earn their freedom– Slaves viewed as a better investment

Slave Trading Culture

• Psychology of racism begins to be instilled• Poor white colonists now have someone

below them• Uprisings reduced due to many barriers– Language– Lack of knowledge of landscape– Rigid laws enacted