The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons

The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons

Section 1: Age of Explorationc. 1270-1600

Why begin exploring?

Once Europeans come in contact with Asian goods, they want them more quickly!◦Land routes = slooooowww

Kings/queens want more loot!Better technology allows it.

Why begin exploring?

Explorers can improve maps◦Popular misconception: Most people knew

the world was round; Columbus did not set sail to prove it wasn’t flat.

◦However, everyone thought the world was much smaller than it is (explorers didn’t know about the Americas).

Oops!

What are they thinking?!

They want a way to sail WEST and reach Asia (which is east of Europe). ◦Such a route would be much quicker.

A note about these “stupid” mistakes…A note about the often cruel treatment

toward natives and others…

Example of an ancient world map

They thought if you left going west…

…you’d end up over in

the East before long.

So you can see why they were so surprised when America turned up and the world was larger than they thought!

Why are native warriors so easily defeated?

#1: Technology & animals◦Guns, ships, horses, dogs, etc. (think Avatar)

#2: Disease◦Natives haven’t seen cattle-bred diseases

#3: Geography◦Alignment of Americas (N/S) vs. Europe (E/W)◦Proximity of population/animals (disease again)◦Distance between tribes (no one to help)

#4: Ignorance◦Think Spanish are gods & trust them

Spanish/English/French influence on America

Spain uses pueblos, presidios, and missions to Christianize natives◦…which is why California has so many Spanish

place names (San Diego, Los Angeles, etc.).Many English explorers land in Canada

and the Northeast◦…which is why we have New England, New

Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, etc.Many French explorers land in Canada

◦…which is why they still speak French.


Section 2: Rise of Modern Capitalismc. 1350-1600’s

What is capitalism?

Capitalism is a free-market system.◦Competition encouraged between businesses.◦Businesses privately owned, not government-

controlled.◦Purpose of capitalism = make money.

Capital means money.◦People own shares of companies (stock, etc.)◦One who participates in this system is called a capitalist.

The Commercial Revolution

Before the 1600’s, most places are not defined as a country or a nation.◦Most powerful places are cities or kingdoms.

As the world expands, cultures encounter one another.◦This leads to larger, more powerful nations.◦These nations want new ways to make $$!

Exploration is a great way to make $$!◦But it costs a lot to send explorers…◦How to pay for it? Hmmmmm…

How does capitalism come about?

Initially rulers borrow from banks.Eventually, people set up joint-stock

companies.◦Companies sell stock, shares of the company.◦In this way, company raises little sums of

money, but from LOTS of people.◦If the company does well, so do the shareholders, so people want to invest.

◦If the company does poorly, each person is only out a little money.

How does capitalism come about?

Soon such companies become very powerful and want to make more $$.

Entrepreneurs come up w/ ideas, get money, buy materials, and make their own businesses.◦This is much riskier, but the entrepreneur gets

to keep all his profits.◦Because the work is done at home, the entrepreneurial system becomes known as the “cottage industry.”

What is mercantilism?

Mercantilism: idea that countries should make themselves rich by storing up bullion, gold & silver.◦Many countries, esp. Spain, go to other lands to

plunder their bullion.Gold plundered through mercantilism &

money raised through joint-stock companies & entrepreneurs lead to very, very rich empires (capitalists).

All these advancements together are called The Commercial Revolution.

Effects of capitalism

What do you think happens when nations get rich? [discuss]◦Life expectancy goes up◦More babies survive◦Overcrowding◦More leisure time to go elsewhere◦Demand for more material goods

What happens when rich nations encounter each other? [discuss]◦Trade◦Competition◦War!

Colonialism

All these factors lead to colonialism, the belief that nations should control other lands through colonies.◦A colony is a settlement of people in a new

country controlled by their home country.Colonies allow countries to expand to new

lands, open up new trade, control more empires, and get more goods.◦America was a French, Spanish, Dutch, and

British colony.

The Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange (as in Columbus), is vast network of trade that opens up between Old World (Europe & West Asia) and New World (Americas, East Asia, parts of Africa).

What is “exchanged”? [discuss]◦Look at pg. 96: Crops, food, gold, money,

animals, practices, religion, language, etc.◦Most important and unfortunate: slaves and

diseases

The slave trade

Once Europeans begin to grow crops in Caribbean, they need workers.◦Originally they use Native Americans.◦Africans are later preferred.

Between 1550 and 1870, 10-12 million Africans are transported from West Africa to Americas◦Long, brutal voyage by ship is called “The Middle Passage.”


Section 3: The Enlightenmentc. 17th-18th Century

What was the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment is a time from 17th Century (1600’s) to c. 1800 when reason and careful analysis replace blind faith and Catholic Church as primary means of learning.

Ideas behind the Enlightenment

Greeks and Romans developed philosophy.◦Greek philo (love) + sophia (wisdom)

Greeks developed democracy: each person votes directly on all laws and policies.◦Greek dêmos (people) + krátos (power)

Romans set up republic: each person elects representatives to vote and conduct business.◦Latin republica (public interest/affair)


Note: The United States is not a direct democracy!◦It’s a democratic republic (we have direct

voting on some issues, but we primarily elect our leaders, who in turn vote for us).

Rome also came up w/ rule of law, which states that all laws apply to all equally.


Jews/Christians believe God has a covenant, or binding agreement, between Himself & His people.◦Covenant idea influences Enlightenment

thinkers to make contracts between leaders and people.

Another important figure = Yeshua Bar Joseph.◦Who’s he? [discuss]◦Jesus (whose last name was not Christ!)◦Christian values spread everywhere.


Arab Muslims have huge influence on Enlightenment thinkers.◦Medical, mathematical, and scholastic influence◦Beginning of universities

Renaissance = rebirth (French renaissance means rebirth) of arts, science, culture, & knowledge.◦Remember how capitalism made nations

wealthy?◦Now that they are wealthy, they can afford art,

learning, science, and other ventures.


Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther breaks from Catholic Church) lays the groundwork for people to question church authority.

Soon King Henry VIII takes power from Pope and forms Anglican Church (Church of England).

Puritans do not like Anglican Church under James I and want to purify it.◦Pilgrims, who sail from England and land at

Plymouth, Mass., are Puritans.


Why do Puritans sail for America?◦Dissatisfied w/ Anglican Church.◦Disagree w/ absolute monarchy (king has total

power).1688: English Parliament forces out James

II and replaces him w/ William & Mary, his son-in-law and daughter.◦William & Mary sign English Bill of Rights,

guaranteeing certain rights to citizens.◦Inspires our Bill of Rights.

History of Limited Government

Magna Carta (1215): King doesn’t have absolute authority & must grant certain rights to citizens.

English Parliament: House of Lords/House of Commons.People get representation

English Bill of Rights (1689): King has to grant all fair rights to Parliament.Inspires American Bill of Rights

Virginia House of Burgesses (1619): First representative assembly in colonies.

Mayflower Compact (1620): Sets up direct democracy based on “just & equal” laws for all.

Important thinker: John Locke!

THIS John Locke.

Not this John Locke.

LOST


Thomas Hobbes says absolute monarchy is best way to govern, since people will make life “nasty, brutish, and short.”

John Locke says govt. should be based on natural, God-given rights and answerable to the people.◦Social contract: If govt. gets out of hand,

people should be able to kick it out!◦American colonists accept Locke’s ideas.◦Do you agree? [discuss]


Charles de Montesquieu writes that English government (Parliament) is best, b/c powers are divided.◦Executive, legislative, & judicial branches.◦Founding Fathers adopt these ideas.


So…to review, when colonists settle in America, they bring w/ them…◦1. Ideas of limited govt. power◦2. Belief in natural rights for all people◦3. Democratic and republican ideals (people get

a say in state affairs)◦4. Ideas of a divided government◦5. Philosophy and reason◦6. Contracts between powers and people◦7. Capitalism

How well did they do? [discuss]

The American Journey Chapter 1: Expanding Horizons

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