Some Necessary Background Some Necessary Background on Why you are in the United on Why you are in the United

States and sitting in that chair States and sitting in that chair todaytoday

Background on Background on Early AmericaEarly America

Asiatic peoples, Chinese, Polynesians, Irish, Vikings Asiatic peoples, Chinese, Polynesians, Irish, Vikings may have come to the Americas before the may have come to the Americas before the Europeans. They left almost no trace of being hereEuropeans. They left almost no trace of being here

Most people believe present day Native Americans Most people believe present day Native Americans came via the Bering Land Bridge (Russia to Alaska) came via the Bering Land Bridge (Russia to Alaska) during an ice age in search of foodduring an ice age in search of food

Eventually parts of the Americas had thriving Eventually parts of the Americas had thriving empires like the Aztec and Maya. empires like the Aztec and Maya.

Most of North America was inhabited by Stone Age, Most of North America was inhabited by Stone Age, nomad peoples at the time the Europeans came. nomad peoples at the time the Europeans came. We used to call them “Indians”. Now we call them We used to call them “Indians”. Now we call them Native AmericansNative Americans

Factors that lead to the European Factors that lead to the European colonization of the continent of colonization of the continent of

North AmericaNorth America

1.1. National/Nation State National/Nation State RivalriesRivalries

2.2. Theory of Theory of MercantilismMercantilism

3.3. Economic Economic OpportunitiesOpportunities

4.4. Strategic PositioningStrategic Positioning5.5. ReligiousReligious6.6. PhilosophicalPhilosophical7.7. Ecological Ecological

1. National Rivalries1. National Rivalries Rise of Nation States in EuropeRise of Nation States in Europe Fierce Fierce CompetitionCompetition between the between the

countries of France, Portugal, countries of France, Portugal, Italy, England, Spain. Who’s the Italy, England, Spain. Who’s the biggest, the “baddest”, the biggest, the “baddest”, the richest? richest?

War and Trade were War and Trade were

how competition how competition

was expressedwas expressed

2.2. MercantilismMercantilism

Theory that if one country’s wealth Theory that if one country’s wealth increased, some other country’s wealth increased, some other country’s wealth would decrease because there was only a would decrease because there was only a finite amount of wealth in the world.finite amount of wealth in the world.

Wealth was measured in gold and silverWealth was measured in gold and silver To protect their gold and silver, To protect their gold and silver, countries countries

had to increase their tradehad to increase their trade, armies and , armies and navies. navies.

Colonies were also a way to increase Colonies were also a way to increase resources that could be used for trade/ resources that could be used for trade/ markets and increase wealth.markets and increase wealth.

3. 3. EconomicEconomic

opportunityopportunity

Colonies provideColonies provide raw materials that raw materials that could be made into exports to the could be made into exports to the “mother” country“mother” country

Colonies were a Closed market for Colonies were a Closed market for selling finished goods of the “mother” selling finished goods of the “mother” countrycountry

Colonies are an Investment opportunityColonies are an Investment opportunity Colonies will generally make a “mother’ Colonies will generally make a “mother’

country richcountry rich

4. Strategic4. Strategic New colonies in New colonies in

positions near positions near trade routes or trade routes or other powers other powers could supply raw could supply raw materials, materials, defense, soldiers, defense, soldiers, resources, safe resources, safe havens in times havens in times of warof war

5. 5. ReligiousReligious

Some Roman Catholics from Spain, Some Roman Catholics from Spain, Portugal, and France sought Portugal, and France sought converts converts to Catholicismto Catholicism

Some Protestants fled to the New Some Protestants fled to the New World to World to escape religious escape religious persecutionpersecution at home. at home.

Some religions saw a place they Some religions saw a place they could could worship freelyworship freely without the without the interference of the stateinterference of the state

Mission Sites in Georgia1587-1706

6. Philosophical6. Philosophical

A new placeA new place A new beginningA new beginning A new “Eden”A new “Eden” A place to try out the philosophies of the A place to try out the philosophies of the

old country and see if they workedold country and see if they worked An outlet for the daring, adventurous An outlet for the daring, adventurous

element of Europe (and it did not hurt if you element of Europe (and it did not hurt if you made a fortune or proved a theory in the made a fortune or proved a theory in the doing)doing)

7. Ecological7. Ecological Europe is in a “little ice Europe is in a “little ice age” that does not end age” that does not end until the late 1800’s.until the late 1800’s.

Some areas are starving Some areas are starving as their climate gets as their climate gets worse leading to a quest worse leading to a quest for survival and an for survival and an outreach for more land, outreach for more land, food, tradefood, trade

Some climates are much Some climates are much better leading to a better leading to a population explosion in population explosion in those areas and an those areas and an outreach to find more outreach to find more land, food, tradeland, food, trade

Major Major European European

ExplorersExplorers of of the Americasthe Americas

Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci from from Portugal- anything Portugal- anything familiar about his name?familiar about his name?

MagellanMagellan from Spain-first from Spain-first to sail around the worldto sail around the world

Columbus Columbus from Spain- from Spain- Looking for a short route Looking for a short route to China and ran into the to China and ran into the Americas. At least we get Americas. At least we get his name day off!his name day off!

John CabotJohn Cabot

ItalianItalian 1497- Explores 1497- Explores

northeast North northeast North America for England.America for England.

““Discovers” Nova Discovers” Nova Scotia.Scotia.

Gives England its Gives England its first claim to North first claim to North American land.American land.

English Settling of AmericaEnglish Settling of America

Sir Walter RaleighSir Walter Raleigh 1587- given 1587- given

permission to start a permission to start a colony in Virginia.colony in Virginia.

Roanoke- first colony Roanoke- first colony in America.in America.

Spanish prevent Spanish prevent supplies getting to supplies getting to colony.colony.

1591- supplies arrive, 1591- supplies arrive, but colony is gone.but colony is gone.

““Lost Colony” of Lost Colony” of CroatonCroaton

Reminder:Reminder:Not everyone came to the “New Not everyone came to the “New

World” of their own free willWorld” of their own free will• SlavesSlaves• PrisonersPrisoners• CapturedCaptured oror Impressed Impressed sailorssailors

And Others had been here for And Others had been here for a very long time….a very long time….